Dance Anatomy & Kinesiology

332 Dance Anatomy and Kinesiology

Dorsiflexion

Ankle-foot dorsiflexion involves bringing the

anterior surface of the shin and the dorsum of the

foot toward each other. The tibialis anterior and

other dorsiflexors of the ankle-foot (table 6.4) are

used concentrically to flex the unweighted foot, for

example in the swing phase of walking; when the

foot is actively flexed as a gesture in modern dance;

in sitting dorsiflexion with weights (table 6.6D,

p. 345); or before or after striking the floor in fla-

menco or tap dance (figure 6.36). Although all of the

anterior crural muscles can produce dorsiflexion,

the tibialis is the most powerful dorsiflexor.

When the foot is on the ground and weight bear-

ing, the dorsiflexors can be used to very slightly

pull the lower leg toward the foot, to help shift the

weight of the body forward such as before a relevé

or in preparation for moving forward in space.

However, in most cases when the foot is weight

bearing, gravity is the primary force and tends

to create dorsiflexion of the foot. Hence, under

these circumstances the dorsiflexors of the foot are

not working concentrically to create dorsiflexion;

rather the plantar flexors of the foot are used either

to maintain the angle of dorsiflexion (isometrically),

such as with standing in one place, or to control

further dorsiflexion (eccentrically), such as during

landing from a jump.

Inversion

Inversion of the foot involves lifting the inner border

of the foot. When the foot is unweighted, inversion

TABLE 6.4 Ankle-Foot Movements and the Extrinsic
Muscles That Can Produce Them

Joint move-

ment

Primary muscles Secondary muscles

Ankle-foot

Plantar flexion Triceps surae:

Gastrocnemius

Soleus

Tibialis posterior

Flexor hallucis longus

Flexor digitorum

longus

Peroneus longus

Peroneus brevis

Dorsiflexion Tibialis anterior

Extensor digitorum

longus

Extensor hallucis

longus

Peroneus tertius

Foot

Inversion Tibialis posterior

Tibialis anterior

Flexor hallucis longus

Flexor digitorum

longus

Extensor hallucis

longus

Eversion Peroneus longus

Peroneus brevis

Extensor digitorum

longus

Peroneus tertius

Toes

Flexion

Great toe Flexor hallucis

longus

*

Toes 2-5 Flexor digitorum

longus

*

Extension

Great toe Extensor hallucis

longus

*

Toes 2-5 Extensor digitorum

longus

*

*Although there are no other extrinsic muscles, there are many intrinsic muscles
listed in table 6.3 that can assist in producing these movements.

FIGURE 6.36 Sample dance movement showing ankle-

foot dorsiflexion and associated prime movers.

Photo courtesy of Steve Zee and Jazz Tap Ensemble. Dancer: Steve Zee.