Definition
The movement of bending the foot upward toward the shin. Weakness in dorsiflexion (difficulty lifting the foot) is a clinical sign of nerve damage, particularly L5 nerve root compression in the lower spine.
Dorsiflexion
anatomyDorsiflexion is the movement of bending the foot upward at the ankle, bringing the toes towards the shin. It is used with every step to lift the foot clear of the ground. Doctors test it by asking a patient to walk on their heels or push the foot up against resistance. Weakness here, sometimes called foot drop, can point to compression of the L5 nerve root in the lower spine.
Curious about Dorsiflexion?
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