Anatomy Muscles Anterior Tibialis Muscle of the Lower Leg By Brett Sears, PT Brett Sears, PT Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Brett Sears, PT, MDT, is a physical therapist with over 20 years of experience in orthopedic and hospital-based therapy. Learn about our editorial process Updated on April 03, 2020 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Stuart Hershman, MD Medically reviewed by Stuart Hershman, MD LinkedIn Stuart Hershman, MD, is board-certified in orthopaedic surgery. He is the director of adult spinal deformity & complex spinal reconstruction at Massachusetts General Hospital and is on the faculty at Harvard Medical School. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Function Problems That Can Occur Treatments 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. Hero Images / Getty Images 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 splints Weakness in the muscle causing foot drop and a high steppage gait pattern Anterior tibialis tendonitis Sciatica 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 healthcare provider or physical therapist is in order if you suspect anterior tibialis problems, especially those that cause a loss of functional mobility. Your healthcare provider can determine if your shin pain is shin splints or some other problem. Everything You Should Know About Shin Splints Treatments A physical therapist may use various treatments to help improve the function and mobility of your anterior tibialis muscle. Typical treatments may include: Anterior tibialis stretching Strengthening exercises for your anterior tibialis Kinesiology tape Massage to the muscle Neuromuscular electrical stimulation to help improve neuromuscular recruitment of your muscle Your anterior tibialis muscle may also become weak if 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 healthcare provider or physical therapist to assess your specific situation. A problem with your anterior tibialis muscle may be a contributing factor to your condition, and your PT can prescribe the correct treatment to help. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. 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 4 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Shin Splints. Donec V, Kubilius R. The effectiveness of Kinesio Taping® for pain management in knee osteoarthritis: a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2019;11:1759720X1986913. doi:10.1177/1759720x19869135 Pieber K, Herceg M, Paternostro-Sluga T, Schuhfried O. Optimizing stimulation parameters in functional electrical stimulation of denervated muscles: a cross-sectional study. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2015;12:51. doi:10.1186/s12984-015-0046-0 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Foot and Ankle Conditioning Program.