What is the anterior tibial tendon?

[Guest guest]

Dr. Ponseti has asked me (via email) if Livi's anterior tibial tendon

is active? What is this, and how would I be able to tell?

Thanks!

Darby

Livi bi cf 3/15/04

[Guest guest]

That is a tendon that runs down your lower leg, just in front of your

inner ankle, and attaches to the top of the foot. It is used in lifting

your foot up. In kids with clubfoot it tends to be shorter and pulls

the foot inwards.

I'm not sure what he means about if it's " active " ...if that means, is it

tight and pulling her foot in, or does it work as far as lifting her

foot up? You might want to ask for specifics.

In Jake, that's the tendon which was transferred in his surgery last

year. Basically they unhooked it from the usual bone and reattached it

to a bone more towards the outer side of his foot. The problem for Jake

is that it apparently pulled out a little (it didn't heal up correctly),

so it's not working well enough at lifting his foot up. I notice it

mainly when he walks, that the left foot isn't lifted up as much as the

right. He also is walking on the edge of his foot more now and on

tip-toes...we have to remind him countless numbers of times during the

day to walk flat on his feet. In any case we are trying to strengthen

his anterior tibial tendon by doing some exercises on our own- we hold a

finger up above his foot and have him lift his foot up and try to touch

the finger, without bending his knee. It's challenging but he's

definitely trying (he really really doesn't want to have another surgery

and be stuck in a cast for 6 wks!!).

HTH-- sorry I rambled on so bad...

[Guest guest]

Thank you - that helps a bunch!

Darby

> That is a tendon that runs down your lower leg, just in front of

your

> inner ankle, and attaches to the top of the foot. It is used in

lifting

> your foot up. In kids with clubfoot it tends to be shorter and

pulls

> the foot inwards.

>

> I'm not sure what he means about if it's " active " ...if that means,

is it

> tight and pulling her foot in, or does it work as far as lifting

her

> foot up? You might want to ask for specifics.

>

> In Jake, that's the tendon which was transferred in his surgery

last

> year. Basically they unhooked it from the usual bone and

reattached it

> to a bone more towards the outer side of his foot. The problem for

Jake

> is that it apparently pulled out a little (it didn't heal up

correctly),

> so it's not working well enough at lifting his foot up. I notice

it

> mainly when he walks, that the left foot isn't lifted up as much as

the

> right. He also is walking on the edge of his foot more now and on

> tip-toes...we have to remind him countless numbers of times during

the

> day to walk flat on his feet. In any case we are trying to

strengthen

> his anterior tibial tendon by doing some exercises on our own- we

hold a

> finger up above his foot and have him lift his foot up and try to

touch

> the finger, without bending his knee. It's challenging but he's

> definitely trying (he really really doesn't want to have another

surgery

> and be stuck in a cast for 6 wks!!).

>

> HTH-- sorry I rambled on so bad...

[Guest guest]

Hi Darby,

If you feel the top of your foot when you bring it up you'll notice two

tendons tighten. The one closer to the inner part of your foot is the

anterior tibial tendon. If it tightens then it's " active " .

Try tickling Livi's sole to get her to really bring up the foot.

Is Livi experiencing a relapse?

Dan

What is the anterior tibial tendon?

Dr. Ponseti has asked me (via email) if Livi's anterior tibial tendon

is active? What is this, and how would I be able to tell?

Thanks!

Darby

Livi bi cf 3/15/04

[Guest guest]

Hi Dan,

Thanks for your response (and suggestion about tickling her feet - I

will try that).

I'm not sure what is going on with Livi... she had her second

tenotomy almost 2 months ago - just got out of her casts about 2-3

weeks ago. The tenotomy didn't do what we wanted to her left foot-

it only has 5 degrees dorsiflexion still. Her right foot has 15

degrees. Our doc just told us to keep in in the FAB for nights and

naps - so I emailed dr. Ponseti to see what he thinks. He mentioned

she may have atypical club feet and asked me some questions, which I

have responded to the best of my ability... we'll see what he says -

I'm not sure what to do from here, so hopefully he can make a good

suggestion. I know the shoes may be in our future... at

this point, she's right back to where she was before the tenotomy -

her left foot simply will not stay in those markell shoes. We've

tried everything to keep it in!

Darby

Livi 3/15/04 bi cf

> Hi Darby,

>

> If you feel the top of your foot when you bring it up you'll

notice two

> tendons tighten. The one closer to the inner part of your foot is

the

> anterior tibial tendon. If it tightens then it's " active " .

> Try tickling Livi's sole to get her to really bring up the foot.

>

> Is Livi experiencing a relapse?

>

> Dan

>

> What is the anterior tibial tendon?

>

>

> Dr. Ponseti has asked me (via email) if Livi's anterior tibial

tendon

> is active? What is this, and how would I be able to tell?

>

> Thanks!

>

> Darby

> Livi bi cf 3/15/04

>

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>

>

>

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