Biomechanics

of
Ankle and Foot
Ankle Joint
Tibia and Fibula
Talus
Bone Anatomy
• Ankle Mortise
– Leg
• Tibia
– Weak point -
distal 1/3
• Fibula
– Attached to tibia
via interosseus
membrane
– Talus
Tibia-Fibula Fixation
• Interosseous
Membrane
• Distal Tibiofibular
Ligament
– Anterior
– Posterior
 Function of Lower Leg
• Lower leg provides
– Support for the entire body
– Propulsion through space
– Adaptation to uneven terrain
– Absorption of shock
 Ankle Ligaments
• Lateral • Medial

1
 Lateral Ankle Liagaments
• 3 primary Lateral ankle ligaments
– Anterior talofibular
– Posterior talofibular
– Calcaneofibular
• Support and maintenance of bone
apposition
• Prevent inversion of the foot associated
with plantar flexion
Lateral ankle Liagaments
 Medial Ankle Liagaments
• Triangular in shape with two smaller
ligaments beneath
• Usually called “Deltoid Ligament”
• Runs from the medial malleolus of the
tibia to the talus, and the navicular bone
– Anterior Tibiotalar part
– Posterior Tibiotalar part
– Tibiocalcaneal part
– Tibionavicular part
 Medial Ankle Liagaments
• Provide a great deal of stability to the
medial side of the ankle
• Prevent eversion of the foot associated
with dorsiflexion
• Rarely injured in sports
Medial Ankle Ligament
 Joints of Ankle
• Tibiofibular joint
– Amphiarthrodial joint
– Space in-between is called the mortise
• Talocrural joint or Ankle joint
– Modifies hinge joint formed by the tibia,
lateral malleolus of the fibula, and the talus
 Movements

• Dorsiflexion

– “Raising the toes”

• Plantarflexion

– “Point the toes”

 Ankle Goniometry
• Dorsiflexion
– 0-25 degrees
• Plantarflexion
– 0-50 degrees
• Normal gait requires 10 degrees of
dorsiflexion and 20 degrees of plantar
flexion with the knee fully extended
• Joint reaction force in stance is 4 times
BW
 Muscles
• Anterior compartment
• Posterior compartment
– Deep group
– superficial group
• Lateral compartment
 Anterior compartment
• Tibialis anterior
• Extensor digitorum
• Extensor hallucis longus
 Extensor Extensor Tibialis
Digitorum Hallicus Anterior
Longus Longus
 Posterior compartment
• Superficial group
– Gastrocnemius
– Soleus
– Plantaris
Gastroc Soleus Plantaris
 Posterior compartment
• Deep group
– Tibialis posterior
– Flexor digitorum longus
– Flexor hallucis longus
Flexor Digitorum Flexor Hallicus Tibialis
Longus Longus Posterior
 Lateral compartment
• Peroneus longus
• Peroneus brevis
• Peroneous tertius
 Peroneus
Peroneus Longus Peroneus Brevis Tertius
Foot
 Foot
• Serves as
– A base of support provides a stable platform
– A shock absorber
– A mobile adapter generates propulsion
– A rigid lever at push-off
• Divided into 3 parts
– Hind foot
– Midfoot
– Forefoot
 Hindfoot
• Talus
 Hindfoot
• Calcaneous
 Midfoot
• Navicular
– Bridges movements between the hindfoot
and forefoot
• Cuboid
• 1st, 2nd, 3rd Cuneiforms
 Forefoot
• 5 metatarsals
• 14 phalanges
• Work together to form arches which
distribute body weight throughout the
foot
 Phalanges (14)

Metatarsals (5)
 Joint of Hindfoot
• Subtalar joint
– articulation between talus and calcaneus
– classified as gliding joint
– Converts tibial rotation to forefoot supination
and pronation
Subtalar Axis
 Subtalar Axis
• Triplanar/oblique
• (Up, forward and medial)
• Inclined up approximately 420
• Inclined medially approximately 160
Movements of Subtalar Joint
• Supination
– Adduction
– Inversion
– Plantarflexion
• Pronation
– Abduction
– Eversion
– Dorsiflexion
Ideal Rearfoot Alignment
Forefoot Valgus
Foot Supination

Calcaneus inverts
Talus adducts and
dorsiflexes
Forefoot Varus
 Foot Pronation
Calcaneus everts
Talus adducts and
flexes
Locking and Unlocking Joint
 Joint of Midfoot
• Transverse tarsal
joint
– articulation between
talus, navicular,
calcaneus and cuboid
bones
– classified as gliding
joint
• Movements
– Forefoot abduction
and adduction
 Action of the Transverse
Tarsal Joint
• Transitional link
between the hindfoot
and the forefoot
• Hindfoot supination
provides rigid lever
 Action of the Transverse
Tarsal Joint
• When hindfoot is
supinated,
Transverse tarsal
joint’s ability to
compensate is
restricted
 Action of the Transverse
Tarsal Joint
• When hindfoot is
pronated, Transverse
tarsal joint can
compensate to maximize
forefoot contact
 Tarsometatarsal joints
• Medial cuneiform with 1st metarsal bone
• Intermediate cuneiform with 2nd
metarsal bone
• Lateral cuneiform with 3rd metarsal
bone
• Cuboid with 4th and 5th metarsal bone
• Small gliding joints
• Allow foot to adapt to uneven surfaces
during gait
 Metatarsophalangeal joints
• All are condyloid joints
• Flexion/extension (dorsiflexion and
plantarflexion), Abduction/Adduction
• More dorsiflexion than plantar to allow
body to pass over MP joints when
walking
 Interphalangeal joints
• Hinge joint
• Phalanges
work to
transition
weight from
one foot to the
other
 Arches of Foot
• Longitudinal Arch
– Lateral Longitudinal Arch
– Medial Longitudinal Arch
 Arches of Foot
• Transverse Arch
 Functions of Arches
• Support
• Shock absorption
– Medial Longitudinal Arch
• Weight transmission
– Lateral Longitudinal Arch
• Increase mobility
 Ligamentous Support
• Primary supporting ligaments of archs
of foot are
– Calcaneonavicular ligament (spring)
– Long plantar ligament
– Plantar fascia (plantar aponeurosis)
– Short plantar ligament (plantar
calcaneocuboid)
Plantar Fascia
 Function of Arches
• Support body weight
• Lever in
• Pedal arch is dynamic
• Ligaments active in standing
• Muscle active in propulsion
Windlass Mechanism
Windlass Mechanism
 Classifying Arch Type
• Normal
• Pes Planus: Flat foot
• Pes Cavus: High Arch
Blood and Nerve Supply of Foot
 Muscles of the foot
• Intrinsic- muscle has both attachments
within the foot
• Extrinsis- muscle has one attachment
outside of the foot
 Extensor Extensor Tibialis
Digitorum Hallicus Anterior
Longus Longus
Gastroc Soleus Plantaris
Flexor Digitorum Flexor Hallicus Tibialis
Longus Longus Posterior
 Peroneus
Peroneus Longus Peroneus Brevis Tertius
 Intrinsic Foot Muscles
• 1st Layer (Superficial)
– Abductor Hallicus
– Flexor Digitorum Brevis
– Abductor Digiti Minimi
 Intrinsic Foot Muscles
• 2nd Layer
– Quadratus Plantae
– Lumbricales
 Intrinsic Foot Muscles
• 3rd Layer
– Adductor Hallicus
– Flexor Hallicus Brevis
– Flexor Digiti Minimi
 Intrinsic Foot Muscles
• 4th Layer
– Plantar Interosseous
– Dorsal Interosseous
 Foot loading
• Heel 60%
• Forefoot 30%
• Peak forefoot pressure under 2nd MT
• Footwear helps to distribute pressures
more evenly
Selecting Appropriate Footwear

• Footwear should be appropriate for

existing structural deformities
• For pronators a rigid shoe is
recommended
• For supinators require more flexible
footwear with increased cushioning
Selecting Appropriate Footwear

• Midsole design also set to control

motion along medial aspect of foot
• Heel counters are also used to control
motion in the rearfoot
• Other aspects of shoes that may impact
foot include outsole contour and
composition, lacing systems and
forefoot wedges