Dorsiflexion of the foot is the movement at the ankle joint (talocrural joint) where the foot upwards towards the shin and reducing the angle between the dorsum of the foot and the leg. It implies the flexion of the foot in the dorsal, or upward, direction.
According to specialists, athletes should train to have at least 15 degrees of dorsiflexion to be within normal limits. Ankle dorsiflexion limited by tight calf muscles: Gastrocnemius, Soleus, and the Achilles tendon.
A loss of range of motion results from scar tissue and adhesions that build along the fascia of overused muscles. This eventually leads to endangered biomechanics and inefficient movement patterns in the foot including the lower leg. Too frequently, these settlements are not addressed, they have presented a debilitating condition, such as foot drop or plantar fasciitis.
Foot drop may be a gait abnormality in which the dropping of the foot happens because of weakness, irritation or damage to the common fibular nerve as well as the sciatic nerve, or palsy of the muscles within the anterior portion of the lower leg. it’s typically a symbol of a greater problem, not a disease in itself.
Foot drop or inability to dorsiflexion of the foot characterized by the inability or impaired ability to lift the toes or raise the foot from the ankle. The inability to dorsiflexion of the foot or foot drop could also be temporary or permanent, depending on the extent of muscle weakness or paralysis and it will occur in one or both feet. In walking, the raised leg is slightly bent at the knee to prevent the foot from dragging on the ground.
Foot drop is a potentially complex problem. It can be described as a notable weakness of the ankle and dorsiflexion of the foot. The foot and ankle dorsiflexors combine the tibialis anterior, the extensor hallucis longus, and the extensor digitorum longus.
The foot and ankle dorsiflexors muscles combine-
Tibialis anterior
Extensor Hallucis Longus
Extensor Digitorum Longus
Peroneus Tertius
Dorsiflexion Muscles
Tibialis anterior
The Tibialis anterior is situated on the lateral side of the tibia.
Origin: The Tibialis anterior originated from lateral condyle of the tibia, lateral surface of the tibial shaft, interosseous membrane, and the deep surface of the fascia cruris.
Insertion: It inserts into the medial and plantar surfaces of 1st cuneiform and on the base of the first metatarsal bone.
Function: Dorsiflexor of ankle and invertor of foot
Nerve Supply: Deep peroneal nerve (L4, L5, S1)
Extensor Hallucis Longus
The Extensor hallucis longus muscle is situated within the Tibialis anterior and the Extensor digitorum longus, that performs to extend the big toe and dorsiflex the foot, and assists amidst foot eversion including inversion.
Origin: The Extensor hallucis longus originated from the anterior surface of the fibula and the adjacent interosseous membrane.
Insertion: It inserts into the base and dorsal center of distal phalanx of the great toe.
Function: Extends great toe and dorsiflexes ankle
Nerve Supply: Deep peroneal nerve (L4, L5, S1)
Extensor Digitorum Longus
The Extensor Digitorum Longus is a pennate muscle, located in the front part of the leg and neighbors the Peroneus Brevis Muscle and Tibialis Anterior Muscle.
Origin: The Extensor Digitorum Longus originates from lateral condyle of tibia, upper 2/3 – 3/4 of medial fibular shaft surface, the upper part of the interosseous membrane, and anterior intermuscular septum.
Insertion: Splits into 4 tendons, each of which inserts on the dorsum of the middle and the distal phalanges as part of extensor expansion.complex
Function: Extend toes 2 – 5 and dorsiflexes of the ankle joint
Nerve Supply: Deep peroneal nerve (L4, L5, S1)
Peroneus Tertius
The peroneus tertius is a muscle of the human body located in the lower limb.
Origin: The peroneus tertius originates with the extensor digitorum longus of the medial fibular shaft and the anterior intermuscular septum within the extensor digitorum longus and the tibialis anterior.
Insertion: The peroneus tertius inserts into the dorsal surface of the base of the fifth metatarsal bone.
Function: It works with the extensor digitorum longus to dorsiflex the ankle, evert and abduct the foot.
Nerve Supply: Deep peroneal nerve
Dorsiflexion Exercise
