Gastrocnemius – neglected, stubborn or misunderstood?
What is the Gastrocnemius? The gastrocnemius is the muscle more commonly known as the calf muscle. The main function of the gastrocnemius is ankle plantar flexion, i.e. moving the toes and top of the foot away from the body, as well as dorsiflexion, i.e. moving the toes and top of the foot towards the body. The main muscles of the calf include: • Gastrocnemius • Soleus • Tibialis (anterior and posterior) • Peroneus (longus and brevis) The Gastrocnemius The gastrocnemius (or gastrocs) is the superficial muscle on the back of the leg. It has two heads, the medial head and the lateral head. It attaches the femur (the thigh bone), on the posterior medial condyle, which is located to the inner portion of the leg, near the knee area. The insertion area of the gastrocnemius is the Achilles tendon, known as the calcaneous, which is referred to as the ‘heel’ bone. The Soleus The soleus is a flat muscle, which is located below the gastrocnemius, on the sides of the lower limbs. The soleus attach
