DiyInjuryRehab.com

In this post I will give you enough information to understand something quite complicated – namely how your ankle and foot work together for support, balance and movement.

I have previously explained why it is essential to have good mobilitiy and muscle control in your foot – Foot Fundamentals

I have also explained in Ankle Joint – A Balanced View how your ankle actually consists of three joints.

Ankle Joint Complex

1. The joint between the two long bones – the Tibia and Fibula (Inferior TibioFibular Joint)

2. The joint between the Tibia / Fibula and Talus (TaloCrural Joint)

3. The complex joint between the Talus and Calcaneum (Subtalar Joint

 

In addition to these joints you have also to take into consideration the joints between the hind-foot and the mid-foot and the mid-foot and the forefoot.

HindFoot and ForeFoot Joints

 

 

 

 

B-Joints between mid-foot and forefoot

 

 

A-Joints between Hind-foot and mid-foot

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conjoint Rotation

The combined movement at all these joints taken together is known as Conjoint Rotation. This means that as the inner arch is flattened the leg rotates inward, and as the arch is raised the leg tends to rotate outward.

Click on the video and watch it a few times – you should get the idea.

So to put it the other way round – as your shin rotates inwards your arch flattens.

You can now see why it is crucial to have control of your arch and to be able to balance effectively. If your foot is unable to move in this way it has a huge impact on movement further up your leg especially at the knee and hip.

The reverse is also true – if you do not have hip control then inward rotation of your thigh will cause a flattening of your inner longitudinal arch. You are starting to understand how everything links to everything else – that’s why it’s called the kinetic chain – everything is linked together!

That explains why

can all be caused by a weak foot and ankle.

Also why

can all be caused by a weak hip muscle.

Perhaps now you are starting to understand the complicated inter-relationships that occur when we walk and run. You can now see how it is important that all the components of the kinetic chain are functioning efficiently. That is the keystone upon which the rationale behind “diyinjuryrehab.com” is constructed.

COMING SOON …
Video Self-Assessment of your Kinetic Chain