The muscles which move the ankle and foot, tend to be found in the lower leg, with long tendons which cross the ankle joint and attach onto foot bones.
Click the pictures below for more information including origins, insertions, actions and nerve supplies.
Movements of the Foot and Ankle
There are four main movements of the ankle, which when performed one after the other, results in circumduction (circling the ankle!).
- Plantarflexion - pointing the foot downwards, making a straight line from shin to top of foot.
- Dorsiflexion - pulling the foot upwards, decreasing the ankle between shin adn top of foot.
- Inversion - turning the ankle so that the sole of the foot faces inwards.
- Eversion - turning the ankle so that the sole of the foot faces outwards.
- Toe flexion - pointing the toes.
- Toe extension - pulling the toes upwards.