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Lumbricals of the Foot

Your feet are complex feats of engineering that enable you to stand up and walk. This system allows you to move by transferring your weight not only from your left foot to your right, but by shifting this body weight from your heel to you toes and back again. You may not realize the important role your toes and foot muscles play in ambulation -- toe contact represents about three-fourths of your gait, according to the South African Podiatry Association. Lumbricals work with other muscles and structures of the foot to allow you to walk and run.

  1. Muscles of the Foot

    • You are able to walk because of the way groups of muscles in your feet and legs work in concert. Each muscle in your foot stabilizes one of the bones in your toe, allowing your weight to shift smoothly as you walk or run. Lumbrical muscles maintain the inner toe bone, or proximal phalanx. Three muscle groups work together for each toe -- one to flex the toe and two more, including the lumbrical muscles, to stabilize it while you stand or when you transfer your weight from your heel to the ball of your foot. Long flexor muscles bend your knee, bringing your toes into contact with the ground. It is then up to the interossei and lumbrical muscles to maintain the toe joints in this position, allowing you to bear weight on the ball of your foot and toes.

    Lumbricals

    • Lumbricals stabilize the front of your foot while you are standing, according to Norcal Muscle Clinic, and the back of your foot in that moment when you are about to swing your back leg forward during walking or running. Lumbricals are most active in that motion between standing and swinging your leg forward.

    Location

    • The lumbricals are four small, fleshy skeletal muscles. You also have lumbricals in your hand. Lumbricals of the foot begin at the tendons of the flexor digitorum longus, which is located about halfway between your heel and toes, just at the highest part of the arch. The lumbricals end in tendons on the insides of each of your lesser toes.

    Complications

    • An imbalance in muscle strength that causes stronger muscle groups to overtake weaker one may result in toe deformities severe enough to immobilize you. "Clawing" your toes when walking, or wearing shoes without ample room to wiggle your toes, will result in uneven gait and diminished ankle flexion. Untreated, chronic muscle imbalances affecting the lumbricals of the foot may eventually inflict permanent damage to your legs, hips and back.

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