The Extensor Digitorum Longus is a small muscle of the lower leg that sits on the front of the leg, and it assists the ankle, foot, and toes with extension. Injury to this muscle will make everyday activities like going up stairs, running, or playing sports painful. It may be a small muscle that is rarely thought about, but it represents a huge rule in how the entire lower leg functions.
Extensor Digitorum Longus Anatomy
The extensor digitorum longus is one of the many muscles that make up the lower leg. In front you can feel the shin bone and the tibialis anterior, the side is made of the extensor digitorum longus and the peroneus brevis muscle.
The upper part of the muscle extends over the fibula bone, but the lower portion eventually fans out and helps to provide a function for the small four ties. The peroneal nerve and the anterior tibial artery both serve this muscle. There is a variation of this muscle that has found connections with the big toe, but it is not common.
Extensor Digitorum Longus Function
The muscle can become overused if the anterior tibialis is not activating correctly. These muscles both help with actions like dorsiflexion. The tibialis anterior is the bigger of the muscles and meant to take on much more of the workload. Muscles become overused, it is often because they are doing more work than they are supposed to, and this is often the case with the Extensor Digitorum Longus.
Functions Include:
- Dorsiflexion
- Toe Flexion
Signs and Symptoms of Extensor Digitorum Longus Strain
- Pain at the top of the foot
- Pain extending the small four toes
- Numb feeling on the top of the foot
- Difficulty with dorsiflexion
- Claw toe or hammer toe deformities
- Gout
Cause of Extensor Digitorum Longus Injury
- Stubbing toe
- Sports with a lot of kicking
- Cyclist tend to overuse muscle
- People who go up and down stairs a lot every day
Treatment for Extensor Digitorum Long
The first thing you can do on your own after suffering this injury is to rest. The muscle is smaller and responds well to taking so time to let the body heal. Many athletes go overboard with training, and it causes the body to break down. You do not want to over rest either, and you want to do as much as you can pain-free. If you can jog without pain, then you should but anything that causes pain should be stopped right away.
Do not think that just resting will be enough though. You will most lilely run into the same problem. The best way to get over this injury is to see a sports medicine healthcare provider. They will be able to figure out what muscles are not doing their fair share and get them active again. As well as creating a rehab program that can help you to recover quickly without worrying about another injury in the future.
Finding The Best Local Sports Medicine Providers For a Vastus Lateralis Injury.
9INE POINT Health is the best place to start your search for a health care provider to help you stay healthy. The key to success as an athlete is staying healthy and making sure the injuries are dealt with appropriately. Any athlete that runs is at risk of an Extensor Digitorum Longus strain.
9INE POINT Health lets you search for providers by type and skill. For example, you can look for a Physical Therapist that knows the Active Release Technique. It does not matter what kind of provider you need,9INE POINTHealth can help you find them and help you to sort through their skills.
If you are unsure where to start your journey, 9INE POINT Health will ask you questions and help you figure out the best starting place. All you have to do is answer a few questions. From there, 9INE POINT Health will connect you with the type of provider best suited for your needs. It does not matter if you are injured or doing everything you can to prevent an Extensor Digitorum Longus injury.
Prevention of Extensor Digitorum Longus Injury
- Daily stretching of the lower leg
- Strengthening peroneal muscles
- Strengthening dorsiflexion muscles
Skill Sets to Look for In Sports Medicine Providers
Skill sets are the things healthcare providers learn after they graduate. A healthcare provider can take courses and get certifications for different skill sets. These skill sets are valuable and help them approach injuries from different perspectives so that you can get the best help at the right time for any Extensor Digitorum Longus.
- Dry needling
- Acupuncture
- Joint Manipulation
- Active Release Technique
- Graston Technique
- Functional Movement Screen
- Fascial Stretching
- Strength and Conditioning Coach
- Athletic Trainer
- Sports Background
- And many more
KHO Health was acquired by was acquire by 9INE POINT in the summer of 2019 and is now referred to as 9INE POINT Health.
