Plantar flexion, by definition, is the movement of the foot when the upper part of your foot moved away from your leg. This happens when you point your toes downwards or when you stand on the tip of your toes. This movement is given a name because many different muscles are responsible for allowing this motion, and you may realize it or not; this motion helps us a lot in everyday things. This movement is more important in some people than others. This movement and the extent that you can stretch your toes or point them vary in different person; some people, even over time, improve this movement in their body, making them able to make this motion at the farthest point.
The knowledge about this movement is very important because any injury that restricts this kind of movement can affect your everyday activities and, in some cases, may even affect your life career.
Activities allowed by plantar flexion motion
Plantar flexion is a movement that allows a different kind of everyday activities and some of these act8vities are as follows
- It allows the ballet dancers to stand on the top of their toes. This is the highest level of this movement.
- When you are standing on the tips of your toes to reach something higher, all of that is done with the help of this motion.
- Pressing down any pedal like with the bicycle and even your gas pedal is done by this movement.
- When you are stretching, either stand on your toes or point your toes downwards.
These were the movements in which this motion is majorly used, but in other everyday activities like swimming, running, and walking, this motion is used to a very small extent. But if an injury to any muscle related to this movement happens, then these activities are affected as well.
Muscles used in plantar flexion
Plantar flexion requires a different set of muscles to work together. Following are the muscles involved in this motion.
Peroneus Longus
This muscle is present along the length from the lower leg to the biggest toe of your feet, also known as a thumb. This muscle will hold the plantar flexion movement stable while you are in that position and this muscle will also help in the movement where you point your toes outwards.
Peroneus Brevis
Peroneus Brevis is present just below the Peroneus Longus. This muscle is shorter than the peroneus longus muscle. This muscle also holds your stability in the plantar flexion.
Flexor digitorum longus
This muscle is present in the lower leg, and from there, it helps flex all of your toes except the biggest toe of your foot.
Tibialis posterior
This muscle is present in the lower leg as well. This muscle will help not only on the plantar flexion but will also help in the movement where you point your toes inward
Plantaris
This muscle is present in the back of your leg. It starts from the bottom of your thigh bone and reaches the Achilles tendon. This muscle will help in flexing your ankle and knee as well.
Soleus
This muscle is present in the back of your leg and stretches to the Achilles tendon as well. It is one of the major muscles in this movement as it helps you lift your feet from the ground.
Gastrocnemius
This is also one of the main muscles in the plantar flexion, and this muscle is present in the front of your leg to your Achilles heel.
Flexor hallucis longus
This muscle is present deep within your leg, and this will help to flex your toe.
Injury to these muscles
Any injury to these muscles can cause you pain in this type of movement or even in dorsiflexion. This type of injury happens so in the sport and even in ballet dancing. You will experience inflammation and pain in that muscle and will experience pain while doing even your normal tasks.
Treatment from plantar flexion injury
When your muscle gets injured, your plantar flexion will be very restricted, so there are a few things that you should do along with taking pain killers and anti-inflammatory drugs. The things that you can do are
- Rest as much as you can. Restrict any movement that may bring you pain.
- Compression is the best way to get rid of such pains.
- Icing will help relieve the pain and inflammation as well.
- Elevate your feet by placing them on a pillow.
This is all that is needed to know about plantar flexion.