How would you rehabilitate or strengthen the tibialis anterior muscle?
"During my internship, I worked with a runner that had a major strain to this muscle. We worked with her on two routines to strengthen the muscle back to running strength. The first exercise was toe raises while leaning against a wall. The second exercise was heel walks. After a brief training session on the two exercises, they ended up working perfectly for the patient to help get her back up and running in no time."
"Having worked this injury before, my first line of action is to completely rule out a stress fracture versus a tear or strain of the muscle. In hoping that an x-ray was completed by a physician, I can easily rule that out. My most successful rehabilitation patients with an injury to this muscle have included basic exercises like toe raises and heel walks. I have also highly recommended knee high compression socks to patients that have had chronic issues with great results."
Anterior muscle strains are common to see in your line of work. Tell the interviewer how often you see these types of injuries and the treatment you give to help the client get stronger and repair their body. Tell the interviewer that you may have an elderly patient sit in a chair while a more capable patient lies on the floor.
"Because the tibialis anterior facilitates ankle flexion, I would have my client press their foot through the opposite range of motion to stretch the muscle, pull their foot up as far as they will allow, hold the end position for a second or two, and then slowly relax back to the starting position. I would assist with this exercise for 10 to 15 repetitions or until their anterior tibialis muscle tires and they can no longer flex their ankle."
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Anonymous Answer
Tibialis anterior is a muscle located at the front of the tibia, and it is a common area of injury between runners. Rehabilitation of the anterior tibialis would include stretching exercises by plantar flexing and everting the foot, strengthening exercises by dorsiflexing the foot, for example tow raises and heel walking and in a more progressed phase reversed calf raises, and finally a sports massage at the end of the therapy session in order to improve flexibility, help with the recovery of the muscle and to prevent muscle soreness.
Rachelle's Feedback
Very good answer! You show the interviewer that you have the technical knowledge to go with your great bedside manner :)
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