The ankle joint is made up of 3 bones:
It is surrounded by muscles, ligaments, and other tissues to support the weight of the body during movements such as walking, running and jumping.
Most of the muscles that stabilize and move the ankle are located in the lower leg and attach to the foot. Click on the images below to view the muscles
Something to keep in mind: when we do calf stretches in the box (or when you do it on your own), be sure to do them with a straight leg and then a bent leg to target the entire calf complex that is comprised of the gastrocnemius and soleus.
Major muscles surrounding the ankle, categorized by function:
- Dorsiflexion (think entire foot pulled up towards shin): anterior tibialis, extensor hallucis longus and extensor digitorum longus.
- Plantarflexion (think pressing gas pedal to floor): gastrocnemius, soleus, posterior tibialis, fibularis longus and brevis.
- Inversion (think folding foot in): posterior tibialis.
- Eversion (think folding foot out): fibularis longus and brevis.