With Coach Alexa, Online Running Coach and in-person coaching in South Oxfordshire
Introduction to Lower Leg Anatomy
In my last two videos, I didn’t appear in person. I talked you through, using my voice and mouse, some details about the anatomy of our lower legs.
The first video focused on the foot and how it connects into the ankle. The second video zoomed out to look at the whole calf, because much of what happens in the feet and ankles is controlled by muscles and tendons that run up into the calf.
Why These Videos Matter
One of the reasons I showed you those videos was to give an introduction to the complexity of the anatomy in our feet and lower legs.
At the beginning of the foot series, I mentioned that the structure of the foot has to be the way it is because we are bipedal. Our feet are responsible not only for propulsion, but also for stability.
We are inherently a bit unstable – we tip and fall over more easily than animals with four legs. My dog, for example, has four-wheel drive and built-in stability. Humans rely heavily on the ankles, feet, and lower legs to keep upright, especially when out on the trails.
This is even more important when running, because unlike walking, running never has both feet on the ground at the same time. When we run, we are always on one foot or in the air.
Why Online Injury Advice Can Be Misleading
Another purpose of the videos was to highlight why it’s not a good idea to seek injury advice from the internet – for example, asking a Facebook group about shin pain.
In the second anatomy video, I showed the many muscles and ligaments around the shin. There are multiple layers of structures, some not even visible in surface diagrams. These include sets of ligaments holding the tibia and fibula together, muscles, tendons, and bursa.
Shin pain could have many causes. The same goes for pain under the arch of the foot. While it might be plantar fasciitis, there are numerous other possibilities. The foot contains many ligaments, running in all directions, as well as small bones and muscles.
Assuming an injury is one condition and self-treating it may cause more harm than good.
The Value of Professional Assessment
Because of the complexity of the anatomy, it is always best to see a sports physiotherapist if you can, or a general physiotherapist if that’s not possible. A medical professional with a strong understanding of anatomy is best placed to identify the problem.
Closing Thoughts
I hope these videos have given you an interesting overview of the lower leg. I may continue further up the body in future videos – we shall see.
Let me know what you’re interested in and your questions, and that will help shape what I talk about next.
Happy running.
