In part one, we have already talked about the importance of the flexibility of big toe flexors for maximum big toe extension in high demi pointe.
It actually also affect the height of a dancer's foot arch, formation of bunion and flat foot.
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Demi Pointe to Full Pointe
i.e. Toe extension to flexion
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This time in part two, we will talk about anatomy and how the tightness of the big toe flexors affecting the foot arch.
Big toe flexors included 2 muscles, a shorter division and longer division:
1. Flexor Hallucis Brevis (FHB) and
2. Felxor Hallucis Longus (FHL)
"Flexor" mean the muscle which bend the joint.
"Hallucus" means big toe or first toe.
"Longus" means the longer division of the muscle group.
"Brevis" means the shorter division of the muscle group.
Anatomy of Flexor Hallucis Brevis (FHB)
This muscle originate from a tendon at the medial side (inner side) of the foot arch and divides in two portions inserted into the base of the 1st phalanx of the big toe and there is a sesamoid bone at each insertion.
Anatomy of Flexor Hallucis Longus
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| Posteror view of leg Green colour indicate the FHL |
FHL muscle is a deep leg muscle at the posterior compartment situated on the fibular side of the leg (i.e. back of the outer side of the leg next to the calf). The muscle belly is at the lower two third of the back of the fibular bone.
FHL tendon lies in a groove crosses the posterior surface of the lower end of the tibia, posterior surface of the talus i.e. back of the ankle and the under surface of the calcaneus, into the sole of the foot and runs to the front between the heads of FHB and insert into the base of the big toe.
See the picture below:
That is why as mentioned before, a lot of the back of ankle pain in dancers were misdiagnosed as Achilles Tendinitis while it is actually FHL tendinitis.
Also when FHB and FHL becomes tight, it can cause the foot to pronate:
Therefore, it affects the weight bearing of the foot shifted to the medial (inner) side due to the tightness of FHB and FHL which means a drop of foot arch/ flat (pronated) foot.
Also when FHB and FHL are tight, the foot arch becomes stiff and difficult to tendu with nice pointe foot and cause sickling.
Also when FHB and FHL becomes tight, it can cause the foot to pronate:
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| Posterior view of the ankle/foot http://www.docpods.com/over-pronation |
Therefore, it affects the weight bearing of the foot shifted to the medial (inner) side due to the tightness of FHB and FHL which means a drop of foot arch/ flat (pronated) foot.
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| flat foot |
As the weight bear shift to the medial side of the foot, it can be one of the main factor of bunion in many dancers.
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| Bunion |
Also when FHB and FHL are tight, the foot arch becomes stiff and difficult to tendu with nice pointe foot and cause sickling.
So we should self massage FHB and
For stretching of FHL,
it is important to keep FULL ankle dorsiflexion and big toe extension at the same time for good stretching effect.
In Part 3, we will talk about the importance of the strength of FHL and FHB when pushing from high demi pointe to pointe and how to do strengthening in a more appropriate way and prevent injury.
FHL
For stretching of FHL,
it is important to keep FULL ankle dorsiflexion and big toe extension at the same time for good stretching effect.
In Part 3, we will talk about the importance of the strength of FHL and FHB when pushing from high demi pointe to pointe and how to do strengthening in a more appropriate way and prevent injury.
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