What does dorsiflexion refer to?

Dorsiflexion refers to the movement where the toes are brought closer to the shin, effectively bending the toes upward. This motion occurs at the ankle joint and is critical for activities such as walking and running, as it helps to clear the toes from the ground during the swing phase of the gait cycle. Understanding dorsiflexion is essential in sports medicine because limited dorsiflexion can lead to compensations in movement patterns, potentially increasing the risk of injury.

In contrast, pointing the toes downward is known as plantarflexion, which extends the foot away from the shin. Rotating the ankle outward is a different movement called eversion, which involves lifting the lateral side of the foot. Inversion, on the other hand, is the movement where the sole of the foot turns inward. Recognizing these distinctions in movement terminology is vital for accurately describing and assessing ankle and foot mechanics in sport and rehabilitation contexts.