Chapter 22: The Ankle and Foot

Introduction

The joints, ligaments, and muscles of the ankle and foot are designed to provide stability and mobility in the terminal structures of the lower extremity. During standing, the foot must bear the body weight with a minimum of muscle energy expenditure. In addition, the foot must be either pliable or relatively rigid depending on various functional demands, such as adapting to absorb forces and accommodating to uneven surfaces or serving as a structural lever to propel the body forward during walking and running.

A firm understanding of the complex anatomy and kinesiology of the ankle and foot is important when treating impairment in this region of the body. The first section of this chapter reviews highlights of these areas the reader should know and understand. The second section contains guidelines for the management of disorders and surgeries in the foot and ankle region, and the third section describes exercise interventions for this region. Chapters 10 through 13 present general information on principles of management; the reader should be familiar with the material in these chapters and should have a background in examination and evaluation in order to effectively design a therapeutic exercise program to improve ankle and foot function in patients with impairments from injury, pathology, or recovery following surgery.

Structure and Function of the Ankle and Foot

The bones of the ankle and foot consist of the distal tibia and fibula, seven tarsals, five metatarsals, and 14 phalanges (Fig. 22.1).

Structural Relationships and Motions

Anatomical Characteristics

The leg is structurally designed to transmit ground reaction forces from the foot upward to the knee joint and femur and adapt as needed to provide stability to or allow motion of the ankle. The resulting motions in the ankle and foot are defined using primary plane and triplanar descriptors.

Leg

The tibia and fibula make up the leg. These two bones are bound together by an interosseous membrane along the shafts of the bones, strong anterior and posterior inferior tibiofibular ligaments that hold the distal tibiofibular articulation together, and a strong capsule that encloses the proximal tibiofibular articulation. Unlike the radius and ulna in the upper extremity, the tibia and fibula do not rotate around each other, but there is slight movement between the two bones that allows greater movement of the ankle joints.

Foot

The foot is divided into three segments: the hindfoot, midfoot, and forefoot.

Hindfoot. The talus and calcaneus make up the posterior ...