Ankle and Foot Muscle Movements: Anatomy and Resistance Testing

Tibialis anterior

Movement: Ankle Dorsiflexion and Inversion

AM: Extensor Digitorum Longus, Extensor Hallucis Longus, Tibialis posterior

Start: Short seated, leg stabilized against clinicians thigh

Grav. elim: side-lying

Resistance: applied at dorsal foot

Sub: toe extension

Gastrocnemius & Soleus

Movement: Ankle Plantar-flexion

AM: Plantaris, tibialis posterior, flexor dorsal longus, flexor hallucis longus

Start: prone, clinician stabilizes lower leg

Grav. elim: side-lying

Resistance: at plantar foot

Sub: Toe flexion; inversion

Soleus (isolated)

Movement: Ankle Plantar-flexion

AM: Plantaris, tibialis posteror, flexor dorsal longus, flexor hallucis longus

Start: Patient prone, knee flexed 90°, clinician stabilized lower leg

grav. elim: Side-lying

Resistance: at plantar foot

Sub: Toe flexion; inversion

Tibialis posterior

Movement: Foot Supination

AM: Gastrocnemius, Soleus, flexor dorsal longus, flexor hallucis longus, tibialis andterior

Start: side-lying on test leg, knee slightly flexed. tibia stabilized against table

Grav. Elim: supine/long-seated

Resistance: At medial foot

Sub: Toe flexion; ankle dorsiflexion

Peroneus longus & brevis

Movement: Foot pronation

AM: Peroneus Tertius, Extensor Digitorum longus

Start: Patient side-lying on non-test leg. Tibia stabilized against table

Grav. elim: Supine

Resistance: At lateral food

Sub: Toe extension; dorsiflexion

Flexor hallucis brevis & lumbricals

Movement: MTP flexion

AM: Flexor Hallucis longus, Flexor digitorum longus, Flexor digitorum brevis, Abductor hallucis, Abductor digiti minimi, Interossei

Start: Patient supine or long-seated. Stabilize metatarsals.

Resistance: At plantar aspect of proximal phalanges.

Sub: Flexion of distal joints, abduction/adduction of toes

Flexor hallucis longus, Flexor digitorum longus, flexor digitorum brevis

Movement: IP, DIP, PIP flexion

Start: Patient supine or long-seated. Stabilize proximal segment

Resistance: At plantar aspect of distal (IP/DIP) or middle (PIP) phalanges

Abductor hallucis

Movement: 1st MTP abduction

Start: Patient supine or long-seated. Stabilize first MT.

Resistance: At lateral aspect of 1st proximal phalanx.

Note: Patients may be able to perform this against resistance, even if unable to do without resistance.

Extensor hallucis longus, extensor digitorum longus, extensor digitorum brevis

Movement: IP, DIP, PIP extension

Start: Patient supine or long-seated. Stabilize proximal segment

Resistance: At dorsal aspect of distal (IP/DIP) or middle (PIP) phalanges