Toe Strength and Balance in 60’s +

INTRO:
The substantial role of large muscle groups in balance is recognized, such as:

• Trunk
• Hips
• Knees
• Ankles

However, significance of the toe flexor muscles is less well understood. 10 toe flexor muscles contribute to motion of the foot.

Extrinsics:

• Flexor digitorum longus
• Flexor hallucis longus

Intrinsics:

• Abductor hallucis
• Adductor hallucis
• Flexor hallucis brevis
• Flexor digitorum brevis
• Flexor digiti minimi brevis
• Lumbricals
• Interossei
• Quadratus plantae

Poor toe flexor muscle strength has been implicated in:

• Poor postural balance
• Injury risk

Quinlan et al. (2020), systematically reviewed the research to establish if toe flexor strength related to static and dynamic balance.

RESULTS:
9 studies with over 2200 participants met inclusion criteria. In each study, participants were over sixty years of age, and over 73 % of them were female.  All studies showed direct, proportional, and significant correlations between toe flexor strength and postural balance.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Toe flexor strength contributes to improved postural balance for people over the age of 60. Including specific Toe Flexor Exercises into workouts can have a positive effect on balance

LIMITATIONS:

• No study was found/included for a younger population group
• Primarily observational studies

SOURCE:
Quinlan et al. 2020. The evidence for improving balance by strengthening the toe flexor muscles: A systematic review. Gait and Posture, 81, pp. 55-56.

Dalton Urrutia, MSc PT

Dalton is a Physical Therapist from Oregon, currently living and running the performance physiotherapy clinic he founded in London for Grapplers and Strength & Conditioning athletes. Dalton runs the popular instagram account @physicaltherapyresearch, where he posts easy summaries of current and relevant research on health, fitness, and rehab topics. 

Want to learn more or contact him?

Reach out online:

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@Grapplersperformance

www.grapplersperformance.com

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Keeping it Eclectic...

In this episode, Erson tells Andrew about a really confusing and worrying case where his daughter was misdiagnosed with a "Toe Sprain." It obviously wasn't a toe sprain and it cleared up with antibiotics, but then it recurred, in a completely different toe, and on the opposite foot? What was the final treatment and diagnosis? 

Incidentally, after the actual diagnosis, it turns out several of Erson's friends' children (and some adults) have similar presentations. Have you seen this clinically? Let us know your thoughts! 

 

Learn more online - new online discussion group included!

Want an approach that enhances your existing evaluation and treatment? No commercial model gives you THE answer. You need an approach that blends the modern with the old school. 

• NEW - Online Discussion Group
• Live cases
• webinars
• lecture
• Live Q&A
• over 600 videos - hundreds of techniques and more! 
• Check out MMT Insiders

Keeping it Eclectic...

This post and infographic was first found on Brad Beer's Instagram.

Last month there was a strong focus on the foot and ankle complex and it is time to come back to an old biomechanical concept - the windlass mechanism.

If you read The OMPT Daily or any or my previous Quick Links, you'll know I am a fan of The Gait Guys. Occasionally in their posts, I get a bit lost due to shoe fit terminology, and the methods of shoe fit pertaining
to running injuries or general LQ issues.