Effects of a & ldquo;toes-off & rdquo; modified heel raise on muscle coordination in non-dancers, dancers, and dancers with flexor hallucis longus tendinopathy

摘要

Background: Tendinopathy of the flexor hallucis longus, commonly called ?dancer?s tendinitis?, is a prevalent injury among female ballet dancers. Limited success of non-surgical interventions leads to many dancers undergoing tenolysis surgeries with risks and recovery times that can be detrimental to a dance career. The purpose of this study was to evaluate lower limb kinematics and muscle coordination during a modified traditional heel raise exercise where the toes hang off the edge of the support surface. We hypothesized this would decrease activation of the flexor hallucis longus and increase activation of larger plantarflexors.