Lecture Notes: Understanding the MTP Joint and Its Role in Movement

Key Concepts

• MTP Joint: Refers to the metatarsophalangeal joint, crucial for standing and movement.
• Phalanges & Sesamoid Bones: Understanding the structure and pressure points.

Identifying the MTP Joint

• Locate the MTP joint by pressing your big toe and pinky toe.
• Notice where the joint buckles, pressing sesamoid bones into your finger.
• Callous Formation: Often observed around the fifth toe.
• Transverse Arch: The arch is not straight across the toes.

Importance of Proper Footwear

• Shoes should not push up the end of the bone, as it breaks the lever function of the MTP joint.
• Proper footwear allows the MTP joint to press down into the ground effectively.

Movement and Stability

• Ground Connection: Feel the connection at the MTP joint while standing.
• Pressure Dynamics: Pressing the end of the big toe elevates it off the ground, affecting balance.
• Point of Rotation: The MTP joint serves as a rotational axis, providing stability and security.

Practical Application

• Experiment with Movement: Alternate pressure and rotation around the MTP joint on each leg.
• Understand how organizing movement around the MTP joint protects the system and enhances clarity in movement.

Summary

• The MTP joint is central to both stability and movement.
• Proper foot mechanics reduce the need for compensatory protective measures in the body's system.