Muscles
Tibialis anterior
Dorsiflexes and inverts the ankle.
Overview
Dorsiflexes and inverts the ankle. Trigger points here are common in everyday and athletic populations and frequently contribute to the referred pain patterns described below.
Trigger point locations
Anterolateral shin.
Referred pain pattern
Anterior shin and dorsum of the big toe — classic 'shin splints' pattern.
Palpation & testing
Palpate the muscle belly along its accessible course. Reproduction of the patient's familiar pain on palpation supports involvement.
Common causes
Running mileage spikes, downhill running, weak intrinsic foot muscles.
Self-care & clinical treatment
Foot intrinsic work, gait retraining. Clinically: needling.
Symptoms commonly linked
References
- • Travell & Simons — Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction