Quadratus Plantae

Original Editor - Leana Louw

Top Contributors - Leana Louw, Patti Cavaleri and Kim Jackson


Description[edit | edit source]

Quadratus plantae is one of the 20 individual foot muscles. It is situated in the second layer of muscles at the sole of the foot.[1] The muscle consists of a lateral and medial head, coming together to form the bulk of this muscle.[2]The lateral head tends to be smaller than the medial head.

Intrinsicfoot mm.png

Origin[edit | edit source]

The lateral head originates at the lateral border of the calcaneus. The medial head originates on the medial surface of the calcaneus. [1][3]

Insertion[edit | edit source]

Before reaching it's insertion at the posterolateral margin of tendon of flexor digitorum longus[1], the two heads of the quadratus plantae join and form a flat band.[3]

Nerve[edit | edit source]

Lateral plantar nerve (S2, S3).[1]

Artery[edit | edit source]

Lateral plantar artery .[1]

Function[edit | edit source]

The muscles of the foot are arranged in compartments and layers, but function together to support the foot during stance phase and maintaining the arch of the foot. Quadratus plantae mainly functions by assisting flexor digitorum longus with flexion of the lateral 4 digits of the foot.[1]

Clinical Relevance[edit | edit source]

Quadratus plantae increase the stability of the foot during the stance phase of gait to resist toe extension. It is thus an important foot muscle to consider in the gait pattern and with gait retraining after foot injuries.[3]

Related pathologies:[3]

  • Calcaneus fractures: Can lead to contractures of quadratus plantae causing clawing of the 2nd to 5th toes.
  • Diabetic foot: Untreated abscesses in the central plantar space can lead to necrosis of quadratus plantae.
    • Heel pain: Can be the result of entrapment of the lateral plantar nerve between the two heads of quadratus plantae.

Assessment[edit | edit source]

  • Palpation - Start just distal to the plantar aspect of the calcaneus and move distally along the middle portion of the foot. Resistance of the MTPs at the distal phalanx will lead to contraction of the muscle to confirm you are palpating the quadratus plantae.
  • Gait assessment
  • Muscle Length
  • Manual Muscle Testing

[4]

Treatment[edit | edit source]

Resources[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Moore KL, Dalley AF, Agur AMR. Clinial oriented anatomy. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer, 2010.
  2. Schroeder KL, Rosser BW, Kim SY. Fiber type composition of the human quadratus plantae muscle: a comparison of the lateral and medial heads. Journal of foot and ankle research 2014;7(1):54.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Sooriakumaran P, Sivananthan S. Why does man have a quadratus plantae? A review of its comparative anatomy. Croatian medical journal 2005;46(1).
  4. Blackriver and Bootsma Education. Manual Muscle Test and Lengthening - Quadratus Plantae & Lumbricals Pedis. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2OOTf2ANYs [last accessed 20/1/2022]
  5. 5.0 5.1 The Gait Guys. The QP....What's the deal? Available from: https://www.thegaitguys.com/thedailyblog/2018/1/2/the-qpwhats-the-deal (accessed 31/03/2020).