Have you ever before watched a ballet dancer was standing en pointe (also known as relevé) and wondered exactly how it was even possible? That"s usually my mindset whenever I watch a ballet performance: "You are a human, no a swan. Protect against being for this reason graceful."
Ballet dancers undergo rigorous training come perform—not simply learning choreography, yet training your skeletons to bend and stretch in too much poses. Relevé is an instance of too much plantarflexion, in which the foot bends down toward the sole.
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There are fairly a few muscles connected in this action. Let"s take a look at them.
Triceps Surae
The triceps surae is a group of muscles in the posterior compartment the the distal leg, consisted of of the gastrocnemius, soleus, and their common tendon, the Achilles tendon; the triceps surae is frequently known as the calf.
Origin | Insertion | |
Gastrocnemius | Posterior surface of the femoral condyles | Posterior surface of the calcaneus by way of the Achilles tendon |
Soleus | Posterior surface ar of the head and also upper 3rd of the fibular shaft, and also posterior tibia | Posterior surface ar of the calcaneus by method of the Achilles tendon |
The tendon inserts top top the calcaneus, and also during plantarflexion the tendon flexes, resulting in the bone to climb as the remainder of the foot move downward.
Flexor Muscles
It appears a given that plantarflexion, gift a flex action, would have flexor muscles acting in it. The flexor hallucis longus and also flexor digitorum longus muscles, both component of the posterior compartment of the distal leg, occupational not only in plantarflexion but likewise to flex the phalanges the the foot.
Origin | Insertion | |
Flexor hallucis longus | Posterior fibula and inferior interosseous membrane | Inferior surface of distal phalanx 1 |
Flexor digitorum longus | Posterior surface of tibia | Inferior surface of distal phalanges 2-5 |
Tibialis Posterior Muscle
The tibialis posterior plot in 2 muscle actions: plantarflexion and foot inversion. The is a deep muscle in the posterior compartment.
Origin | Insertion | |
Tibialis posterior | Interosseous membrane, posterior surface ar of tibia, and also medial surface of fibula | Tuberosity ~ above navicular and also slips to cuneiforms (3), cuboid, and metatarsals 2-4 |
Plantaris Muscle
I love the plantaris. It"s therefore odd-looking—more that a whipcord than anything. It"s a superficial muscle of the posterior compartment. Sometimes taken into consideration an accessory muscle, it is composed of a small, thin muscle belly and a long, thin tendon.
The plantaris is an aid muscle, which way that it aids in offering steadiness in the act.
Origin | Insertion | |
Plantaris | Supracondyle ridge the femur | Posterior part of calcaneus (along v Achilles tendon) |
Plantarflexion Injuries
Imagine those ballet dancers because that a second—do girlfriend think they learn how to relevé without part bumps and also bruises along the way? Injuries associated with plantarflexion are very common. Among the most usual injuries is fish eye sprains, particularly straining the anterior talofibular ligament (ATF).
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So, the following time you watch a ballet performance (or cringe your method through the movie Black Swan), think of every the muscles working with each other to background those graceful dancers increase onto their toes.