Joints
Proximal tibiofibular joint
A small joint that is often forgotten, but that moves with every dorsiflexion of the ankle: the fibula then slides cranially and rotates outwards. A stiff fibular head can therefore limit the ankle.
- Joint type
- Plane joint (art. plana), small translations
- Body region
- Knee
- Latin name
- Articulatio tibiofibularis
Movements, axes and normal values
| Movement | Plane | Axis | Normal range | End feel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cranial and caudal glide of the fibula | coupled to the ankle | no axis of its own | a few millimetres | hard-elastic |
- Close-packed position
- Maximal dorsiflexion of the ankle
- Resting (loose-packed) position
- Slight plantar flexion of the ankle
- Capsular pattern
- Pain on pressure over the fibular head, with no true movement restriction of its own
- Arthrokinematics
- Almost pure gliding between two flat facets, coupled to the movements of the ankle joint.
- Stability
- Anterior and posterior ligaments of the fibular head, and the interosseous membrane of the leg.
- Palpation
- Head of the fibula laterally and slightly distal to the joint line of the knee. Note: the common peroneal nerve runs right around it, so press gently.
- Clinical
- Restricted movement of the fibular head as an underestimated cause of limited dorsiflexion; injury of the common peroneal nerve in a fibular head fracture or from prolonged pressure.
- Source
- Kapandji, Physiologie articulaire deel 2; Neumann, Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System