The Relevance of Eccentric Calf Control & Activities to Achieve It
What do toe walking, clumsiness, pronation, calcaneal (crouched) gait, scissor gait, & many more posture & gait patterns have in common? … inadequate eccentric calf control! Therapists are often unaware of the impact that poor eccentric calf muscle function has …
Overview
What do toe walking, clumsiness, pronation, calcaneal (crouched) gait, scissor gait, & many more posture & gait patterns have in common?
… inadequate eccentric calf control!
Therapists are often unaware of the impact that poor eccentric calf muscle function has on gait, balance & postural stability. However, the eccentric activity of gastrocnemius & soleus provides stability & control as we move through space, and is therefore essential for optimum gait & postural control. Liesa provides a functional review of calf muscle anatomy & function. The course addresses the significance of eccentric calf function, and includes intervention strategies to increase eccentric strength. In addition, the future effects of eccentric weakness on balance and ambulation is described.
Following this training, participants will be able to:
- Describe three ways the calf muscles function eccentrically.
- List the distal & proximal attachments sites for 2 calf muscles.
- Design 3 activities to increase eccentric calf strength.
Curriculum
Curriculum
- 4 Sections
- 3 Lessons
- Lifetime
- 01 - Handouts1
- 02 - Video link1
- 03 - Post-test1
- 04 - Course Evaluation1
Instructor
Target audiences
- OT/Assistant/Student
- PT/Assistant/Student








