Plantar flexion
Plantar flexion (from Latin planta 'sole of the foot' , Latin flexio 'bend, curvature' ) is the sometimes used, anatomical-functional term for the movement of the foot in the ankle towards the sole of the foot. It essentially corresponds to the movement of the foot when “accelerating” while driving.
Although this direction of movement appears to be more of a stretching due to the right-angled position of the foot to the lower leg, the terms extension and flexion on the foot are used in accordance with the directions defined on the wrist, which in turn are based on the movements of the fingers (extension = stretching: movement of the fingers or the hand towards the back of the hand; flexion = bending: movement towards the palm). In order to avoid misunderstandings, the word part “Plantar” - ( towards the sole of the foot ) is usually placed in front of the flexion of the foot , with extension the word part “Dorsal” ( towards the back of the foot ). Especially when moving the ankle joint, the extension is often referred to as "flexion" or "kinking" because "stretching" is associated with "stretching out" the leg, which, however, does not correspond to the anatomically correct name.
The flexion of the toes is usually just referred to as flexion; here, however, the term plantar flexion would also be anatomically correct.
Plantar flexion and dorsiflexion occur mainly via the ankle joint , whereas plantar flexion occurs via the Chopart joint (articulatio tarsi transversa).
Restrictions on movement
Injuries to the foot or chronic overloading of the upper ankle joint can lead to impingement with restricted range of motion during dorsiflexion or plantar flexion. In the case of trauma in which there is extreme plantar flexion, a posterior dislocation in the ankle joint can result, with an accompanying rupture of the capsular ligament apparatus or with a rupture of the posterior edge of the tibia.
In the case of an extension contracture of the ankle, which can arise, for example, from long-term immobilization of the upper ankle in a dorsiflexion position, the foot can neither be actively nor passively transferred into plantar flexion. When walking, the foot does not roll , especially the toe-off phase, and the result is an inharmonious gait pattern , especially when going down stairs and downhill . If the condition has only existed for a short time, conservative therapy may be sufficient. Scarred tendon adhesions after prolonged shortening of the foot and toe extensors can be surgically loosened.
With equinus foot, however, the foot is permanently fixed in a plantar flexion.
A limited dorsiflexion has mechanical and functional disadvantages.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Ventral and dorsal impingement. LMU, Klinikum der Universität München, Clinic for General, Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, accessed on September 26, 2018 .
- ↑ Ibrahim A. Kapandji: Functional Anatomy of Joints: Schematic and commented drawings on human biomechanics , 5th edition, Georg Thieme Verlag, 2009, ISBN 978-3-13-142215-6 . P. 158 .
- ↑ Renée Fuhrmann: Foot extensor, contracture. In: Engelhardt Lexicon Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery. Retrieved September 26, 2018 .
- ↑ Jürgen Arnold: Orthopedics and orthopedic surgery: Foot , Ed .: Carl Joachim Wirth. Georg Thieme Verlag, 2002, ISBN 978-3-13-126241-7 . P. 12 .