AssessingandTreatingInterosseousMuscleStrains-Medic.docVIP

Assessing and Treating Interosseous Muscle Strains Did you know you have interosseous muscles in your foot? You know your leg has various large muscles as the aductors in your upper leg or the tibial muscles in your lower leg. Well your foot too has very powerful muscles which control the direction of your toes. As all muscles the interosseous muscles can abduct and flex, in this case their action is to abduct and flex the toes. Obviously abduction is less important in the midfoot compared to flexion but let’s first understand the anatomy of the interosseous musculature in relation to the metatarsal bones of the foot, as well as the circulatory and nervous systems. Anatomy of the Interosseous Musculatre of the Foot: Muscles, Tendons and ligaments The 4 interossei muscles are situated between the 5 long metatarsal bones of the midfoot. They are bipenniform muscles, arranged on each side of a tendon. Each interossei muscle originates by two heads from the proximal half of the sides of adjacent metatarsal bones. The two heads of the muscle form a central tendon which passes deep into the metatarsal ligament. The first tendon is inserted into the medial side of the second toe; the other three are inserted into the lateral sides of the second, third, and fourth toes. As mentioned the interosseous muscles’ action is to abduct and flex the toes. Abduction is less important in the foot compared to flexion at the joints between the metatarsal bones and the phalanges (toes). These powerful muscles control the direction of the toes during violent activity, allowing the long and short flexors to perform their actions. The interosseous muscles also contribute to maintaining the anterior metatarsal arch of the foot, as well as to the medial and lateral longitudinal arches of the foot, due to the position of the joints between the metatarsal bones and the phalanges (toes). They basically stabilize the foot while walking and running. The Circulatory and Nervous systems: Nerves