Measurement of Muscle Motor Points Location in the Intrinsic Foot Muscle for Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation: A Fresh Cadaver Study

Tunpisith Jeamsupakorn, Pasuk Mahakkanukrauh, Aatit Paugmali, Shin-Yuan Chen, Chich-Haung Richard Yang
Purpose:

We would like to identify the muscle motor point location in the plantar intrinsic foot muscle for NMES to facilitate intrinsic foot muscle function.

Methods:

We recruited 40 feet from 20 fresh cadavers (14 male, 6 female), age 70.65 ±11.77 years, from the Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand. There were no deformed or injured feet or surgery on the lower extremity and foot. We measured the location of the muscle motor points of flexor digitorum brevis, quadratus plantae, abductor digiti minimi, adductor hallucis oblique, and flexor hallucis brevis muscles based on the x and y axes using measure tape and image J program. The X-axes were measured from the MP location to the heel. The Y axes were measured from the MP location to the medial border of the foot. Foot length (FL) was measured as the distance between the heel and the longest toe. Foot width (FW) was measured as the distance between the first and fifth metatarsal head. We calculate the percentage of X-axes on foot length (%FL) and the percentage of Y-axes on foot width (%FW). The result was shown with mean ± S.D. of each muscle by %FL and %FW.

Results:

Foot length (FL) is 22.56 ± 1.75 cm. Foot width is 9.22 ± 1.24 cm. The MP location of the flexor digitorum brevis in 34.61 ± 5.43% of % FL with 25.87 ± 8.96% of the %FW. The location of quadratus plantae in 38.99 ± 6.98% of %FL with 42.32 ± 9.37% of %FW. The MP location of abductor digiti minimi in 44.82 ± 6.32% of %FL with 58.57 ± 9.97% of % FW. The MP location of the hallucis brevis on 49.45 ± 4.47% of %FL with 23.53 ± 5.45% %FW. The MP location of adductor hallucis oblique in 52.27 ± 4.22% of %FL with 49.07 ± 7.85% of %FW.

Conclusion(s):

This study identified the location of the intrinsic foot muscle motor point, which may improve neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) for clinical rehabilitation. In future studies, we must verify the location of muscle points in healthy participants to verify which ones are used to stimulate the internal muscles of the feet. 

Implications:

The results of this study may help physiotherapists treat people with the weakness of intrinsic foot muscles problem by facilitating inherent intrinsic foot muscle function with NMES. 

Funding acknowledgements:
This research was not funded.
Keywords:
muscle motor point
intrinsic foot muscles
neuromuscular electrical stimulation
Primary topic:
Musculoskeletal: lower limb
Second topic:
Musculoskeletal
Did this work require ethics approval?:
Yes
Name the institution and ethics committee that approved your work:
Institution: Chiang Mai University Ethics Committee: The Research Ethics Committee of Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University
Provide the ethics approval number:
ANA-2567-0292
Has any of this material been/due to be published or presented at another national or international conference prior to the World Physiotherapy Congress 2025?:
No

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