The lower limbs of five cadavers were dissected and the lengths of the muscle fibres and the weights of allthe muscles below the knee were measured. From this information the relative strength and excursion of eachmuscle was determined. We found that the plantarfiexors of the ankle were six times as strong as thedorsifiexors. We have therefore discarded the concept of “muscle balance” in tendon transfer surgery andpropose that task appropriateness should be the guide.

The constant relationship between muscle fibre length and muscle excursion means that contractures areaccompanied by decreased excursion. Tendon lengthening improves deformity but does not improve the decreased active range of movement.