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Comparison of the Muscle Activity Ratio of Tibialis Anterior and Extensor Digitorum Longus in Subjects with the Normal Toe and the Hammer Toe during the Active Ankle Dorsiflexion

Koh, Eun-Kyung (Department of Physical Therapy, Masan College)
Jung, Do-Young (Department of Physical Therapy, Jungbu University)
Kim, Tae-Ho (Department of Physical Therapy, Daegu Health College)

Publication Information

Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine / v.6, no.1, 2011 , pp. 103-108 More about this Journal

Abstract

Purpose : The purposes of this study were to compare the muscle activity ratio of tibialis anterior (TA) / extensor digitorum longus (EDL) during the active ankle dorsiflexion in subjects with the normal toe (NT) and the hammer toe (HT). Methods : Nineteen subjects with the NT group and nineteen subjects with the HT group were recruited for this study. The muscle activities of TA and EDL were measured by using surface electromyography (EMG) and the angles of ankle dorsiflexion and eversion of the subtalar joint were measured by using 3-dementional motion analysis during the active ankle dorsiflexion in prone position. Results : The muscle activity ratio of TA / EDL was significantly lower in the HT group compared to the NT group (p<.05). The angle of ankle dorsiflexion was significantly lower in the HT group compared to the NT group (p<.05). Conclusions : These results suggest that muscle imbalance between TA and EDL muscle and decreased ankle dorsiflexion range of motion may contribute to hammer toe deformity. Further studies are needed to confirm that the correcting of this imbalance and the increasing ankle dorsiflexion could improve toe alignment in the subjects with HT.

Keywords

Extensor digitorum longus; Hammer toe; Muscle imbalance; Tibialis anterior;

Citations & Related Records

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