Dorsiflexion

Dorsiflexion is a term used in anatomy to describe a backward bending and contracting of your hand or foot. This is the action of raising the foot upwards towards the shin, and it means to flex the dorsum, or top of the foot.

Definition

Dorsiflexion is the backward bending and contracting of your hand or foot. This is the action of raising the foot upwards towards the shin, and it means to flex the dorsum, or top of the foot. The opposite of dorsiflexion is plantar flexion.

Anatomy

In anatomy, dorsiflexion is a movement that, for the foot, decreases the angle between the dorsum (superior surface) of the foot and the leg, moving the toes closer to the shin. For the hand, it decreases the angle between the back of the hand and the back of the forearm, moving the fingers towards the same direction as the forearm.

Physiology

The muscles that accomplish this action include the anterior tibialis, the extensor hallucis longus, and the extensor digitorum longus. These muscles are innervated by the deep fibular (peroneal) nerve. The range of motion for dorsiflexion noted in a study done by the American Medical Association is 20 degrees. The factors that may affect this range of motion can be the ankle's range of motion, patient's age, and previous injuries to the ankle.

Clinical significance

Dorsiflexion plays a crucial role in walking. Every step taken involves a phase called the swing phase, where the foot is dorsiflexed. If dorsiflexion is limited, walking can be significantly affected. Limited dorsiflexion can be caused by tightness in the calf muscles or weakness in the muscles that dorsiflex the foot.

See also

• Ankle joint
• Foot
• Plantar flexion
• Range of motion

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