Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medical Science, Fukuoka International University of Health and Welfare, 3-6-40 Momochihama, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka, 814-0001, Japan.
Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga, 849-8501, Japan.
Sci Rep. 2022 Oct 5;12(1):16650. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-21115-5.
The ligaments are believed to have a role in stabilizing joints and regulating joint motion. Here, we propose a novel function of the calcaneofibular ligament (CFL), which stabilizes the ankle joint. In human bipedal locomotion, the peroneal muscles maintain mediolateral stability and prevent involuntary ankle inversion. To investigate the functional relationship between the peroneal longus tendon (PLT), brevis tendon (PBT), and CFL, we quantitatively analyzed the positional changes of the tendons by using a contactless three-dimensional optical scan system. Eighteen cadaveric specimens were included in the study. Interestingly, with increased tension of the CFL, the tendons significantly moved toward the lateral direction (P < 0.001), compared with their position when the CFL was detached. The actual lift amount reached 2.0 ± 0.8 mm for the PLT and 1.9 ± 1.0 mm for the PBT. These results strongly suggest that a tensed CFL can lift the peroneal tendons and may act as a "tensioner" for the effective transmission of muscle contraction. This phenomenon contributes to postural control, especially in regaining balance on uneven terrain, and provides a new perspective for the exercise methods or understanding the ankle joint instability due to sprains.
这些韧带被认为在稳定关节和调节关节运动方面发挥作用。在这里，我们提出了跟腓韧带（CFL）的一个新功能，即稳定踝关节。在人类的双足运动中，腓骨肌维持着横向稳定性，并防止踝关节不受控制的内翻。为了研究腓骨长肌腱（PLT）、腓骨短肌腱（PBT）和跟腓韧带之间的功能关系，我们使用非接触式三维光学扫描系统定量分析了肌腱的位置变化。本研究纳入了 18 个尸体标本。有趣的是，随着跟腓韧带张力的增加，肌腱明显向外侧移动（P < 0.001），与跟腓韧带分离时的位置相比。PLT 的实际提升量达到 2.0 ± 0.8 毫米，PBT 为 1.9 ± 1.0 毫米。这些结果强烈表明，紧张的跟腓韧带可以抬起腓骨肌腱，并可能作为肌肉收缩有效传递的“张紧器”。这种现象有助于姿势控制，特别是在恢复对不平坦地形的平衡方面，并为运动方法提供了新的视角，或有助于理解因扭伤而导致的踝关节不稳定。
