Dorsiflexion is the process of lifting the foot or hand towards the body, and can refer to exercises to strengthen ankles, wrists, fingers, and toes. It can also correct poor walking and running habits and prevent health problems.
Dorsiflexion is the process of lifting the foot or hand in a direction that brings the fingers or toes closer to the body. Physical movement of this type may also include bending the ankle in order to decrease the natural alignment of the foot with the lower leg. Dorsiflexion can refer to exercises designed to strengthen your ankles and wrists while also extending the range of motion for your toes and fingers. However, this term can also be applied to involuntary and extremely painful movements.
As part of a physical fitness program, dorsiflexion involves the systematic flexion of natural joints located at key points in the body’s appendages. When dorsiflexion exercises involve the hands and arms, this may mean intentionally bending the ankle so that the angle between the foot and the lower leg is reduced. The idea is to decrease the angle as much as possible without incurring pain. Over time, this type of activity will help minimize the potential for developing arthritis in the ankle joint as the individual ages.
The same general idea of ankle dorsiflexion also applies to the wrist. By bending the hand up at the wrist for a count of ten, relaxing, then repeating the exercise ten to twelve times, the wrist remains agile and is less prone to arthritis as well as possible sprains. As with exercises involving the ankle, it is important to monitor pain levels during dorsiflexion during reps and not attempt to bend the joint to any angle that causes severe discomfort.
The fingers and toes can also be the focus of a dorsiflexion workout. By gradually expanding the range of motion at key joints where these appendages join the hands and feet, the chances of developing stiffness in those joints are substantially decreased. This can be especially important for people who type or rely on easy finger gestures to make a living.
There are several reasons why foot dorsiflexion can be an ideal tool in learning to walk and run properly. People sometimes land their foot at an awkward angle that puts too much pressure on the heel or ball of the foot. Over time, this can have a negative effect on the muscle groups in the legs and cause damage to the bone structure of the foot and legs. When monitored by an experienced physical therapist, dorsiflexion can correct poor walking and running habits and prevent a wide range of health problems later in life.
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