Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/329694
52 m a s s a g e & b o d y w o r k j u l y / a u g u s t 2 0 1 4 Palpating the Peroneals Position: client supine. 1. Standing at the client's feet, locate the lateral surface of the head of the fibula with your thumb. 2. Palpate distally onto the muscle belly of the peroneus longus, then follow to the brevis. 3. Palpate just anterior to the lateral malleolus to locate the peroneus tertius. 4. Continue to palpate distally, following the tendons behind, or in front of, the lateral malleolus. 5. Resist as the client everts the ankle to ensure proper location. FUNCTIONAL ANATOMY The peroneal muscles all evert the ankle, which helps position the foot prior to planting it on the ground during gait. This motion is also used when moving the body from side to side, where the peroneals help pull the center of gravity from medial to lateral over the planted foot. This side- stepping movement is common when walking over and around objects—for example, when hiking. Ankle eversion also helps initiate and control direction changes. Activities that require pushing with the legs from side to side, like skiing and skating, rely on the peroneals, along with the hip abductors, to power the movement. Weakness, poor mobility, or lack of control of the peroneals may contribute to injuries such as lateral ankle sprains, or chronic conditions such as tendinitis or plantar fasciitis. Christy Cael is a licensed massage therapist and certified strength and conditioning specialist. Her private practice focuses on injury treatment, biomechanical analysis, craniosacral therapy, and massage for clients with neurological issues. She is the author of Functional Anatomy: Musculoskeletal Anatomy, Kinesiology, and Palpation for Manual Therapists (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2009). Contact her at functionalbook@hotmail.com. Client Homework: Seated Butterfly Stretch 1. Sit tall, with the soles of your feet pressed together, and knees dropped to the sides but relaxed. 2. Grasp the tops of your feet and gently roll your ankles, pulling the soles of your feet upward. 3. Keep your back, hips, and knees relaxed, focusing the stretch on the outer leg and ankle. 4. Gently hold until you feel a release in the ankle and leg. Editor's note: The Client Homework element in Functional Anatomy is intended as a take-home resource for clients experiencing issues with the profiled muscle. The stretches identified in Functional Anatomy should not be performed within massage sessions or progressed by massage therapists, in order to comply with state laws and maintain scope of practice.