Orthopedics Leg, Foot & Ankle Print Anterior Tibialis Muscle of the Lower Leg Medically reviewed by facebook linkedin Medically reviewed by Richard N. Fogoros, MD on January 30, 2015 Richard N. Fogoros, MD, is a retired professor of medicine and board-certified internal medicine physician and cardiologist. He is Verywell's Senior Medical Advisor. Learn about our Medical Review Board Richard N. Fogoros, MD Written by facebook twitter linkedin Written by Brett Sears, PT Brett Sears, PT, MDT, is a physical therapist with over 15 years of experience in orthopedic and hospital-based therapy. Learn about our editorial policy Brett Sears, PT Updated on October 25, 2019 Hero Images / Getty Images More in Orthopedics Leg, Foot & Ankle Causes of Pain Treatment & Surgery Sprains & Strains Fractures & Broken Bones Physical Therapy Orthopedic Surgery Osteoporosis Pediatric Orthopedics Sports Injuries Shoulder & Elbow Hip & Knee Hand & Wrist Assistive Devices & Orthotics Medication & Injections View All The tibialis anterior muscle is the muscle located in the front part of the shin bone of your lower leg. The muscle courses from an area just below your knee, down the front of your shin, and finally attaches to the top of your foot. Function of the Tibialis Anterior Muscle Your anterior tibialis muscle serves to help flex your ankle and foot off the ground, as occurs when tapping your foot. The muscle also helps to pull your foot in, a motion called inversion. Since the anterior tibial muscle attaches to the top of your foot, it also helps to raise the arch of your foot. Problems That Can Occur A few different problems can occur with your anterior tibialis muscle that may cause functional mobility limitations. These may include: Shin splintsWeakness in the muscle causing foot drop and a high steppage gait patternAnterior tibialis tendonitisSciatica pain in your shin If you have a problem with your anterior tibialis muscle, you may notice pain in your shin, ankle, or foot, or weakness may prevent your anterior tibialis from functioning properly. A visit to your doctor or physical therapist is in order if you suspect anterior tibialis problems, especially those that cause a loss of functional mobility. Your doctor can determine if your shin pain is shin splints or some other problem. Everything You Should Know About Shin Splints Treatments Your physical therapist can prescribe various treatments to help improve the function and mobility of your anterior tibialis muscle. Typical treatments may include: Anterior tibialis stretchingStrengthening exercises for your anterior tibialisKinesiology tapeMassage to the muscleNeuromuscular electrical stimulation to help improve neuromuscular recruitment of your muscle Your anterior tibialis muscle may also become weak is you suffer a sprained ankle or ankle fracture that requires a long period of immobilization. If you are having weakness, pain, or tightness in your lower leg or shin, you may benefit from a visit to your physical therapist to assess your specific situation. A problem with your anterior tibialis muscle may a contributing factor to your condition, and your PT can prescribe the correct treatment to help. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Dealing with joint pain can cause major disruptions to your day. Sign up and learn how to better take care of your body. Click below and just hit send! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Continue Reading