The lower leg (including ankle and foot), is exposed to several types of injuries/trauma while practicing athletics. Although athletes may wear protective equipment (i.e: soccer players wear shin pads), the lower leg is still at risk of being injured.
The lower leg contains two bones, the tibia and fibula.
The tibia is the larger bone of the two, and is the primary weight bearing bone
Common Injuries to the Lower Leg Include: Contusions: Bruising Strains: Stretch/tearing of muscles/tendons Muscle Cramps: uncontrolled contraction of muscles Achilles Tendonitis: inflammation of the Achilles Tendon Achilles Tendon Rupture: A force on dosriflexed foot Shin Splints: Pain below the knee Stress Fractures: Incomplete crack in a bone Compartment Syndrome: Fractures: Break of bones
ANKLE/FOOT
The foot acts as a support for the body when somebody is walking, running, standing, etc.
Individually, the bones, muscles, and ligaments of the foot are fragile, but as a whole, have enough power to tolerate the demands of an athlete.
Each foot is composed of 26 bones
7 are tarsals, 5 metatarsals, and 14 phalanges
The foot has 33 joints
The ankle joint is composed of the talocrural and subtalar joints
The three arches (transverse arch, medial longitudinal arch, lateral longitudinal arch) of the foot help absorb impact of walking, running, jumping, etc.
Transverse Arch is made up of: cuneiforms, the cuboid, and the fifth metatarsal bones.
Medial Longitudinal Arch is made up of: the calcaneus, talus, navicular, cunieforms, and first three metatarsals.
Lateral Longitudinal Arch is made up of: the calcaneus, talus, cuboid, and the fourth & fifth metatarsals.
Intrinsic Muscle: Muscle relating to a specific body part/bone, responsible for movement of toes
Major Intrinsic Muscles: (add photo)
Extrinsic Muscle: Muscle outside a body part/organ/bone, responsible for movement of the ankle and foot
Major Extrinsic Muscles: (Add photo)
5 MAIN LIGAMENTS OF THE ANKLE: anterior talofibular, anterior tibiofibular, calcaneofibular, posterior talofibular, and the deltoid.
Common injuries of the foot/ankle include: Ankle Sprains: Tear in one or more of the ligaments Arch Sprains: Weakened arch Blisters: When layers of skin rub against each other, separating the skin Turf Toe: Hyperextension of the big toe Plantar Fasciitis: Tenderness on the bottom of the foot Heel Bruise: Tons of stress put on the heel Heel Spur: Bony growth on the calcaneus, causes painful inflammation Fractures: When the bone is broken
FUN FACTS!!
Its more tiring to STAND in one spot for a long period of time than to WALK!
Inversion ankle sprains are the most common!
Both your feet have 52 bones! (THATS A QUARTER OF ALL THE BONES IN YOUR BODY!!!)
Due to footwear, women have 4x more of a chance to develope foot problems!
A lot of people have a foot thats longer than the other! Weird, right?!