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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.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 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

Sex differences, hormone fluctuations, ankle stability, and dynamic postural control.

Hayley Ericksen¹, Phillip A Gribble

¹University of Toledo, OH, USA.

Journal of Athletic Training

|April 11, 2012

Summary

Hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle did not impact ankle laxity or dynamic postural control in women. This study found no link between menstrual phase and ankle instability factors.

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Area of Science:

Sports Medicine
Biomechanics
Human Physiology

Background:

Hormonal fluctuations are a suspected risk factor for anterior cruciate ligament injuries, but their effect on ankle stability is unclear.
Previous research on hormones and ligament injuries yielded conflicting results.
The influence of menstrual cycle hormone shifts on ankle laxity and function remains under-investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of hormone fluctuations in ankle laxity and dynamic postural control.
To compare preovulatory and postovulatory phases of the menstrual cycle in healthy women.
To utilize an ankle arthrometer and the Star Excursion Balance Test for assessment.

Main Methods:

A cohort study involving 20 healthy women and 20 healthy men.
Ankle stability assessed via anterior-posterior and inversion-eversion loading using an ankle arthrometer.
Dynamic postural control measured by the posteromedial reaching distance on the Star Excursion Balance Test.

Main Results:

A significant sex difference was observed in inversion-eversion laxity and dynamic postural control.
Women exhibited greater inversion-eversion laxity and reduced dynamic postural control compared to men.
No significant effect of menstrual cycle phase (preovulatory vs. postovulatory) on ankle laxity or dynamic postural control was detected.

Conclusions:

Hormonal fluctuations across the menstrual cycle do not appear to influence ankle laxity or dynamic postural control in women.
Despite observed sex differences, menstrual cycle phase is not a contributing factor to ankle instability.
Further research may be needed to explore other factors influencing ankle stability in women.