Sitting or lying supine
Ask the patient to remove shoes and socks.
Anterior to the patient.
Please sit down. May I touch the top of your foot? (or point to the area). Please bring your big toe up (or demonstrate). (If needed sayÖ. ìhold this position while I try to push your big toe downîÖ.)
The extensor hallucis brevis is the part of the extensor digitorum brevis to the hallux and is sometimes distinguished separately.
Guide or ask the patient to sit down. With the patient relaxed and with permission, place your fingers on the medial aspect of the dorsum of the foot and ask the patient to extend the hallux or if not possible to isolate the hallux, to extend the toes. This muscle action produces a muscle bulge, usually visually observed, on the dorsolateral foot and just anterior and plantar to the lateral malleolus. Palpation of the tendon to the hallux may or may not be palpable as the hallux alternately extends and then relaxes. The tendon of the extensor hallucis longus is more superficial and prominent and the action of this muscle is the same as that of the extensor hallucis brevis.
With unclear muscle activity, increase the contraction of the extensor hallucis brevis by asking the patient to extend the hallux while you provide a push on this toe in the direction of hallux flexion.
Guide or ask the patient to sit down. With the patient relaxed and with permission, place your fingers on the medial aspect of the dorsum of the foot and ask the patient to extend the hallux or if not possible to isolate the hallux, to extend the toes. This muscle action produces a muscle bulge, usually visually observed, on the dorsolateral foot and just anterior and plantar to the lateral malleolus. Palpation of the tendon to the hallux may or may not be palpable as the hallux alternately extends and then relaxes. The tendon of the extensor hallucis longus is more superficial and prominent and the action of this muscle is the same as that of the extensor hallucis brevis.
With unclear muscle activity, increase the contraction of the extensor hallucis brevis by asking the patient to extend the hallux while you provide a push on this toe in the direction of hallux flexion.
VH - Leg and foot skeleton with extensor hallucis brevis muscle and tendon ñ add extensor digitorum brevis, extensor digitorum longus. anterior tibialis, extensor hallucis longus and peroneus tertius muscles and tendons, superior and inferior extensor retinacula and superior and inferior peroneal retinacula on one side