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Ankle Joint

Ankle Joint

The ankle is formed by the talocrural joint (crural = leg). It consists of the articulations between the talus bone of the foot and the distal ends of the tibia and fibula of the leg. The superior aspect of the talus bone is square-shaped and has three areas of articulation. The top of the talus articulates with the inferior tibia. This is the portion of the ankle joint that carries the body weight between the leg and foot. The sides of the talus are firmly held in position by the articulations...

Muscles of the Leg that Move the Foot and Toes

Muscles of the Leg that Move the Foot and Toes

The human leg comprises an intricate system of muscles that facilitate the movement of feet and toes. Within this system, the muscles are categorized into the anterior, lateral, and posterior compartments, each with a unique set of muscles carrying out specific functions.
Anterior Compartment
The anterior compartment includes muscles that contribute to the dorsiflexion of the foot. This compartment houses the tibialis anterior, extensor hallucis longus, and extensor digitorum longus muscles.

Bones of the Lower Limb: Tibia and Fibula

Bones of the Lower Limb: Tibia and Fibula

The tibia is the main weight-bearing bone of the lower leg. It is larger than the fibula with which it is paired. The tibia is also the second longest bone in the body and is located right below the skin. The proximal end of the tibia forms the medial and the lateral condyle, which articulates with the condyles of the femur to form the knee joint. Between the articulating surfaces is the irregular elevated area known as the intercondylar eminence that serves as the inferior attachment point for...

Muscles that Move the Leg

Muscles that Move the Leg

The movement of the legs is facilitated by numerous muscles located within the anterior, medial, and posterior compartments of the thigh.
Anterior Compartment
The quadriceps femoris, the most visible muscle of the anterior compartment, is integral for leg extension and thigh flexion. It is formed by merging four distinct muscles — the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, and rectus femoris. The quadriceps tendon, a shared tendon of the four quadriceps muscles, is affixed to...

Muscle Coordination and Action

Muscle Coordination and Action

Muscle coordination is a complex and finely tuned process essential for smooth and purposeful movements like flexion, extension, adduction, abduction, and rotation. The human body orchestrates the actions of various muscles working in concert, each with a specific role. Four functional types describe how muscles work together: agonist, antagonist, synergist, and fixator.
Agonists
Agonist muscles, often called prime movers, are the primary muscles responsible for producing a specific movement.

Isotonic and Isometric Muscle Contractions

Isotonic and Isometric Muscle Contractions

Two primary types of muscle contractions are isotonic and isometric, each serving unique functions and involving distinct mechanisms. Both isotonic and isometric contractions are integral to the body's complex system of movement and stability. Isotonic exercises contribute significantly to functional strength and movement, while isometric contractions are crucial for maintaining posture and joint stability.
Isotonic contractions
Isotonic contractions occur when a muscle changes length while the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 1, 2026

Evaluating Postural Control and Lower-extremity Muscle Activation in Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability

Evaluating Postural Control and Lower-extremity Muscle Activation in Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability

Published on: September 18, 2020

The Relationship between Muscle Function and Ankle Stability.

G Lentell, L L Katzman, M R Walters

The Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy

|January 1, 1990

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Chronic ankle instability is not primarily caused by muscle weakness. Instead, balance deficits suggest that proprioceptive issues are key, highlighting the importance of proprioception exercises in treatment.

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Area of Science:

Sports Medicine
Orthopedics
Physical Therapy

Background:

Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is a common condition affecting athletes and the general population.
The role of muscle weakness versus proprioceptive deficits in CAI remains a subject of investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

To quantify muscle strength differences in individuals with chronically unstable ankles.
To assess balance differences between the involved and uninvolved lower extremities in subjects with CAI.

Main Methods:

Isometric and isokinetic torque measurements of ankle invertor and evertor muscles were collected bilaterally.
A modified Romberg test was performed to evaluate balance.
33 subjects (ages 17-54) with unilateral chronic lateral ankle instability participated.

Main Results:

No significant differences in isometric or isokinetic muscle strength were found between the involved and uninvolved ankles.
Significant balance differences were observed between the affected and unaffected lower extremities in most subjects.
These findings indicate that muscle weakness is not the primary factor in chronic ankle instability.

Conclusions:

Muscular weakness is not a significant contributor to chronically unstable ankles.
Proprioceptive deficits are strongly associated with chronic ankle instability.
Proprioceptive training should be a primary component in managing CAI.