Short discussion on the toe extensor muscles
We received a great question from a doctor active on our Facebook page (Thegaitguys PAGE, not our user portfolio, make sure you are on the "PAGE") Here was the comment:I do like the crouch gaits to help with proximal muscle activation. However I am still not sold on the long toe extensor activation. It would seem to me that the function of this muscle in close chain (ie gait) would be more to aid in pulli...ng the body over the talus (while keeping the toes fully anchored and wide) as opposed to extending the distal phalanx in an open chain fashion. While open chain exercises may 'strengthen' this muscle the neurological processing would seem to be different than closed chain and therefore the transfer to more dynamic exercises would be difficult.? I would think that it would not necessarily change the gait but instead allow for better compensatory strength and durability. Although I still have yet to develop a great exercise for this closed chain control. Any ideas?See More
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The Gait Guys when you activate the toe extensors the arch is increased from the windlass mechanism across the metatarsophalangeal joints. Raising the arch will help bring it to neutral since the crouched gait is a pronation challenge. give it a try............try the crouch shuffles with toes down and toes up.....you will feel the increased demand on the anterior leg compartment, the greater awareness of the foot tripod esp the first metatarsal head anchor point and the improved ability to control the internal tibial spin (and pronation challenge( that occurs with shuffling with toes down. Remember, closed chain is not any more important that open chain activities......arm swing it gait is open chain but it is necessary.....leg swing is open chain but it is necessary for normal progression and pelvic/core use. also remember......we are a flexor dominant society.....look at how many of your clients toes have either a gentle flexion to them or significant.....the balance of the function across the metatarsophalangeal joint is necessary on balance of extensors and flexors......the shuffle gait with toes up is a huge challenge to the toe extensors......that feeling of the strain on the top of the foot and into the shin is confirmatory. OF course, you are right in what you said......but to get the toes optimally anchored you have to have enough long toe extensor strength to override the long flexor dominance.....otherwise you being hammering the toes and enter into the spiraling vortex of flexor dominance, lumbrical inhibition, short extensor overactivation, proximal fat pad drag etc.