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The plantaris muscle is often dismissed as a small, vestigial muscle, however an injury to this structure should actually be included in differential considerations of the painful calf. Injury to the plantaris on its Own, or in association with concurrent injuries of the knee can present a diagnostic challenge to the manual practitioner. This review discusses the diagnosis, imaging, and evidence based management of this tiny, but important muscle of the lower limb.
(JCCA; 51(3):158-165)
KEY WORDS: plantaris, muscle, diagnosis.
Le muscle plantaire est souvent atrophié et se présente sous une forme vestigiale, or une blessure sur cette structure doit en fait être incluse dans les considérations différentielles sur les douleurs au mollet. La blessure du muscle plantaire isolée ou associée à des blessures simultanées du genou peut présenter un défi diagnostique pour le thérapeute. Cette étude présente la gestion, fondée sur le diagnostic, l'imagerie et les preuves de ce muscle, petit mais important, du membre inférieur.
(JACC 2007; 51(3):158-165)
MOTS CLÉS : plantaire, muscle, diagnostic
Introduction
The plantaris is a small muscle that courses along the posterior aspect of the leg as part of the posterosuperficial compartment of the calf. Often thought of as a vestigial, accessory muscle, the plantaris muscle is absent in only 7-20% of limbs.1 Although injuries of this structure have been a source of controversy3'4·5·6·7 pathology of the plantaris muscle and tendon is an important differential diagnosis for pain arising from the proximal posterior aspect of the leg.
The purpose of this paper is to outline the anatomy, injury, diagnostic imaging, and treatment of the plantaris muscle. As well, it is intended to highlight the importance of including injury of this structure as a reasonable differential diagnosis for proximal posterior leg pain.
Anatomy
The plantaris muscle consists of a small, thin muscle belly, and a long thin tendon that forms part of the posterosuperficial compartment of the calf. (Figure 1) Together with the gastrocnemius, and soleus, they are collectively referred to as the triceps surae muscle. The muscle originates from the lateral supracondylar line of the femur just superior and medial to the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle as well as from the oblique popliteal ligament in the posterior aspect of the knee.8·9 The muscle ranges from...