The condition known as Anterior Tibialis Tendonitis is a pain in the front of the tibia, a bone found in the lower leg. It is usually caused by overuse and stress on these muscles because they are not strong enough to handle this extra force. The tibia is an essential part of the body for runners since it is responsible for supporting up to sixty percent of someone’s body weight at high speeds. The Tibialis Anterior muscle located on the front of the lower leg is also significant because it controls some functions essential for running, such as ankle stabilization, foot placement, and springing into a run.
The Anterior Tibialis is a group of muscles that run down the front of the tibia. It consists of three muscles: the anterior tibialis posterior, the extensor digitorum longus, and the extensor hallucis longus. These muscles are responsible for the dorsiflexion of your foot or when you point your toes up.
Overuse and overtraining promote muscle strain, especially in these three muscles. So, it is no coincidence that many runners get AT. The stronger these muscles are developed and used, the more stress they are under. Anterior tibialis pain running is also caused by sports that demand sudden power, such as track or sudden stretching of the muscles. A sudden stop or change in the direction of stride can cause AT.
The first sign of anterior tibialis pain is usually pain upon extending or dorsiflexing your toes. The second symptom is pain at the front of your shinbone, below your knee cap, and right where your ankle meets your shinbone. These symptoms indicate a problem with the AT muscles and a strain on the tendon.
To diagnose AT, you need a good history of overuse and overtraining in these three muscles. Often these factors can be uncovered through a physical exam, although a full-leg muscle ultrasound will help confirm an injury before beginning treatment. Running tibialis anterior pain runners need to avoid walking on the injured side, but it should continually be assessed.
Anterior tibialis pain running treatment begins with assessing how much damage has occurred. It involves determining which muscles are affected and how much force is put on them. Once this has been determined, it’s time to treat the muscle by strengthening it and decreasing the strain it puts on the tendon. Physical therapy can help with this, too, as can stretching and icing.
Once the muscle is strong enough, pain should be minimized or eliminated. Anterior tibialis tendonitis may occur in your foot if you increase speed or tackle a new activity, such as hiking.
Are you a runner that has questions about physical therapy for treating anterior tibialis pain? Contact the Springfield physical therapists at MOVE Athletics. We are happy to answer your questions.