Steve:
I have seen similar morphology in many anatomically longer lower extremities
of active individuals. I empirically explain that this presentation results
by subcortical proprioceptive attempts to minimize a pelvic obliquity
(orthopaedic homeostasis) as well as the gravitational-structural
compensations where the longer LE acquires greater amounts of ipsilateral
pronation (with associated excessive calcaneal valgus) in an attempt to
shorten the net length of the longer LE, i.e. greater amounts of pronating
the foot/ankle on the longer LE results in a functional shortening effect.
This ipsilateral excessive pronation causes isolated muscular stress upon
the medial structures of the leg.
The healthy response to this compensatory medial leg stress is FHL,
posterior tibialis and medial gastroc hypertrophy, while the undesirable
response is a strain of the medial gastroc head, referred to as "Tennis
Leg", medial tibial stress syndrome, shin splints, and or a
strained/ruptured Achilles tendon.
Robert E DuVall, PT, MMSc, OCS, MTC, PCC, CSCS
Clinical Physical Therapist and Doctoral Candidate
SportsMedicine of Atlanta, Inc
2645 Wilshire Terrace
Lawrenceville, GA 30044
Office: (770) 979-1400
Fax: (770) 978-3360
Mobile: (678) 362-9849
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Marcum" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, December 22, 2001 1:46 PM
Subject: Gastro Hypertrophy
> Why would a competitive runner have the medial muscle
> belly larger than the lateral muscle belly of the
> gastoc in one leg only???
>
> Steve
>
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