Kinesiology of the Ankle:

By Brent Brookbush MS, PES, CES, CSCS, ACSM H/FS

Ankle Plantar Flexion

• Prime Mover: Soleus , gastrocnemius
• Synergists: Fibularis longus, fibularis brevis , tibialis posterior , flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus , plantaris
• Antagonists: Tibialis anterior , extensor digitorum longus, extensor hallucis longus, fibularis tertius
• Neutralizers: The tibialis posterior  and medial gastrocnemius neutralize the eversion force created by the soleus , lateral gastrocnemius and the fibularis muscles .
• Stabilizers: Fibularis longus , fibularis brevis , fibularis tertius , tibialis posterior , flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus , extensor hallucis longus, extensor digitorum longus
• Fixators: Medial and lateral stabilizers of the knee, quadriceps , musculature of the foot

Ankle Dorsi Flexion

• Prime Mover: Tibialis anterior
• Synergists: Extensor digitorum longus, extensor hallucis longus, fibularis tertius
• Antagonists: Soleus , gastrocnemius , fibularis longus, fibularis brevis , tibialis posterior , flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus , plantaris
• Neutralizers: The fibularis tertius and extensor digitorum longus neutralize inversion force created by tibialis anterior and extensor hallucis longus . The toe flexors stabilize the toe extension force created by extensor hallucis longus, and extensor digitorum longus .
• Stabilizers: Fibularis longus, fibularis brevis , fibularis tertius , tibialis posterior , flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus , extensor hallucis longus, extensor digitorum longus
• Fixators: Medial and lateral stabilizers of knee, quadriceps , popliteus , musculature of the foot.

Ankle Inversion

• Prime Mover: Tibialis anterior , tibialis posterior
• Synergists: Medial gastrocnemius , flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus , extensor hallucis longus, plantaris
• Antagonists: Soleus , lateral gastrocnemius , fibularis longus, fibularis brevis , fibularis tertius, extensor digitorum longus , plantaris
• Neutralizers: Careful balance between groups is important to prevent unwanted ancillary motion. It is difficult to name specific neutralizers, as inversion rarely occurs in isolation.
• Stabilizers: Fibularis longus, fibularis brevis , fibularis tertius , flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus , extensor hallucis longus, extensor digitorum longus
• Fixators: Medial and lateral stabilizers of knee, quadriceps , popliteus , musculature of the foot.

Ankle Eversion

• Prime Mover: Fibularis longus, fibularis brevis
• Synergists: Fibularis tertius , soleus , lateral gastrocnemius , extensor digitorum longus
• Antagonists: Tibialis anterior , tibialis posterior , medial gastrocnemius , flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus , extensor hallucis longus
• Neutralizers: Careful balance between groups is important to prevent unwanted ancillary motion. It is difficult to name specific neutralizers, as eversion rarely occurs in isolation.
• Stabilizers: Fibularis tertius , tibialis anterior , tibialis posterior , flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus , extensor hallucis longus, extensor digitorum longus
• Fixators: Medial and lateral stabilizers of knee, quadriceps , popliteus , musculature of the foot.

Ankle Dorsi Flexion and Inversion

• Prime Mover: Tibialis anterior
• Synergists: Extensor hallucis longus
• Antagonists: Soleus , lateral gastrocnemius , fibularis longus, fibularis brevis , plantaris
• Medial gastrocnemius , tibialis posterior , flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus , extensor digitorum longus, fibularis tertius
• Neutralizers:In this analysis we could view those muscles that act as synergists in one, but not both joint actions as neutralizers of excessive motion. In this case those muscles would be:
  • Invertors: Medial gastrocnemius , tibialis posterior , flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus
  • Dorsi Flexors: Extensor digitorum longus, fibularis tertius
• Stabilizers: Fibularis longus, fibularis brevis , fibularis tertius , tibialis posterior , flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus , extensor hallucis longus, extensor digitorum longus
• Fixators: Medial and lateral stabilizers of knee, quadriceps , popliteus , musculature of the foot.

Ankle Plantar Flexion and Eversion

• Prime Mover: Soleus , lateral gastrocnemius
• Synergists: Fibularis longus, fibularis brevis , plantaris
• Antagonists: Tibialis anterior , extensor hallucis longus
• Neutralizers: In this analysis we could view those muscles that act as synergists in one, but not both joint actions as neutralizers of excessive motion. In this case those muscles would be:
  • Evertors: Fibularis tertius, extensor digitorum longus
  • Plantar flexors: Medial gastrocnemius , tibialis posterior , flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus
• Stabilizers: Fibularis longus, fibularis brevis , fibularis tertius , tibialis posterior , flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus , extensor hallucis longus, extensor digitorum longus
• Fixators: Medial and lateral stabilizers of knee, quadriceps , popliteus , musculature of the foot.

© 2011 Brent Brookbush

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