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Gastrocnemius

Muscle function: Knee flexion, plantar flexion (talocrucal joint), inversion (medial part – subtalar joint), eversion (lateral part – subtalar joint). Control of midfoot through Superficial back line and connection to plantar fascia.

Muscle origin:

  • Lateral part: Upper posterolateral surface of lateral condyle of the femur.
  • Medial part: Posterior surface of medial femoral condyle and popliteal surface of femoral shaft.

Muscle insertion: Posterior surface of the calcaneus via the achilles tendon.

Nerve innervation: S1-2

Organ relationship: Sec organs, small intestine, large intestine, kidney and liver – T5-L4, S2-4 and Vagus

  • Sex organs
    • Sympathetic: male T10-L4 / female T5-L4
    • Parasympathetic: Vagus
  • Small intestine
    • Sympathetic T8-11
    • Parasympathetic: Vagus
  • Large intestine
    • Sympathetic: T10-L2
    • Parasympathetic: S2-4 and Vagus
  • Kidney
    • Sympathetic: T10-L1
    • Parasympathetic: Vagus
  • Liver
    • Sympathetic: T7-10
    • Parasympathetic: Vagus

Primary inhibatory muscles: Rectus femoris, Vastus lateralis, Vastus intermedius, Vastus medialis, Biceps femoris, Semimembranosus, Semitendinosus, Tibialis anterior, Peroneus longus

Medial part
Client is supine with the knee flexed approx. 70 deg. The heel is lifted of the ground and placed lateraly, creating and sligth adduction of the foot. The base joint of the big toe should be the primary contact area. Fiksate in the front part of the knee with one hand and grab around the lower part of the calf with the other hand. Ask the client to apply pressure into the ground through the base joint of the big toe and the apply pressure towards extension of the knee in a horizontal line along the ground (trying to slide the foot).

Note: If the client is incapable of lifting the heel off the ground due to lack of plantar flexion, the knee should be bend slighty more until heel lift is possible.

Lateral part
Client is supine with the knee flexed approx. 70 deg. The heel is lifted of the ground and placed medialy, creating and sligth abduction of the foot. The base joint of the 5. toe should be the primary contact area. Fiksate in the front part of the knee with one hand and grab around the lower part of the calf with the other hand. Ask the client to apply pressure into the ground through the base joint of the 5. toe and the apply pressure towards extension of the knee in a horizontal line along the ground (trying to slide the foot).

Note: If the client is incapable of lifting the heel off the ground due to lack of plantar flexion, the knee should be bend slighty more until heel lift is possible.

Functional anatomy for

Gastrocnemius

Related joints: Knee, Talocrural, midfoot

Myofascial lines: Superficial back line

Synergists:

 

Release exercises

Corrective strength exercises

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Functional Rehab Academy

Manual and practical therapy strategies that will help you find the root cause(s) and achieve faster and better results with your clients.

Functional Rehab Academy is a part of:
Move2Peak Academy ApS, Denmark
contact@functionalrehabacademy.com

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