Dorsiflexion And Plantarflexion: The Ankle Joint

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The Ankle Joint, otherwise known as the Talocrural Articulation, is a synovial hinge joint that connects the distal tibiofibular joint to the upper surface of the body of the talus. Owing its strength to the shape of the articulating bones as well as the ligaments and tendons attached to it, the ankle joint is relatively stable in the neutral position.

Dorsiflexion and Plantarflexion are the motions that take place at the talocrural joint. The following muscles contribute to the dorsiflexion of the talocrural joint: 1) Tibialis Anterior, 2) Extensor Hallucis Longus, 3) Extensor Digitorum Longus, and 4) Peroneus Tertius. Dorsiflexion is mainly limited by the tension of the Achilles Tendon, the posterior fibers of the medial ligament as well as the calcaneofibular ligament. (Snell, 2012) Plantarflexion, on the other hand, involves the action of the following muscles: 1) Gastrocnemius, 2) Soleus, 3) Plantaris, 4) Tibialis Posterior, 5) Flexor Digitorum Longus, 6) Flexor Hallucis Longus, 7) Peroneus Brevis, and 8) Peroneus Longus. This movement is limited by the tension of the muscles in the anterior compartment of the leg, the anterior fibers of …show more content…

The status of both leg flexor and extensor muscle activation during different drop heights has not been systematically examined, although biceps femoris alone has been assessed during drop jump (Kellis, et. al, 2003; Peng, et.al, 2010). A study by Ebben, et. al (2008), showed a significant main effect of the gastrocnemius especially in a vertical jump greater than 50cm, but there is no current established standard height used for drop landing, whether for testing or for training. The height of the drop is mainly increased or varied to train greater stimulus in athletes (Nordin & Dufek,

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