New Clinical Test to Evaluate Intrinsic Foot Muscle Function

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A New Clinical Test to Evaluate Intrinsic Foot Muscle Function
Megna Panchbhavi et al
Foot Ankle Orthop. 2024 Dec 11;9(4)

 

Related:
Flexion strength of the toes

 

When it comes to the lesser toes, the problem with the paper grip test is that you can generated quite a lot of downward force through the tips of the toes whilst not using the lumbricals or plantar and dorsal interosei at all. Your toes will adopt a hammer toe configuration thanks largely to the input of the flexor digitorum longus.

For this reason the paper grip test, when applied to the lesser toes, is likely unreliable unless the toes are kept straight whilst applying pressure to the paper.

 

Curling the toes in the way advocated in this "knuckle test" is about the extrinsics rather than the intrinsics. For example ,research makes it very clear that toe curls barely activate the abductor hallucis at all, and the lumbricals and plantar and dorsal interossei act to keep the interphalangeal joints extended ,the opposite of "making a fist" with your foot.

It would appear that when it comes to strengthening/testing the muscles of the foot, confusion is pretty much global.

I mean if they renamed the paper " A new clinical test to evaluate toe flexor muscle function, that would be a bit more accurate.