Tibialis Anterior (left) — SENIAM EMG Electrode Placement

Recording notes & source

per Criswell 2011, site „Ankle Dorsiflexor (Tibialis Anterior)“, p. 371

Placement type: Quasi-specific site Neighbouring muscles contribute noticeably to the signal — allow for crosstalk.
Signal check: Dorsiflex the foot.
Crosstalk from: extensor hallucis longus · extensor digitorum longus · soleus

The position above follows SENIAM; the crosstalk and artefact notes apply to surface recording of this muscle in general.

Print as a session sheet · A4 with landmarks, signal check and MVC test

Source: SENIAM (Hermens 2000) ↗

Hermens HJ, Freriks B, Disselhorst-Klug C, Rau G. Development of recommendations for SEMG sensors and sensor placement procedures. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2000;10(5):361-74.

Based on SENIAM recommendations (Hermens et al. 2000). Not an official SENIAM product. See all references → · SENIAM reference table · How electrodes are placed (guide) · Glossary

Go deeper Specific, Quasi-Specific, General — The Three Types of Surface EMG Placement → SENIAM Electrode Positions — All 26 Muscles at a Glance → Why the Electrode Must Not Sit on the Innervation Zone →

All 49 muscle protocols as a PDF — free

Print-ready for the lab or clinic: 77 pages of protocols (SENIAM + peer-reviewed), plus the SENIAM table, a placement checklist and a sensor comparison sheet as A4 sheets.

Anatomy & Function

The M. Tibialis Anterior (Tibialis Anterior) is a muscle of the lower leg region. It is responsible for dorsiflexion at the talocrural joint, inversion (supination) at the subtalar joint, foot clearance during swing phase of gait. This muscle is one of 26 with official SENIAM-recommended surface EMG electrode placement. This page documents the exact electrode position, anatomical attachments and a standardized test movement based on Hermens et al. (2000).

Function Dorsiflexion at the talocrural joint, inversion (supination) at the subtalar joint, foot clearance during swing phase of gait Origin Lateral tibial condyle, interosseous membrane (proximal 2/3), lateral surface of the tibia Insertion Medial cuneiform (plantar), base of the 1st metatarsal Innervation Deep peroneal nerve, L4–L5

Innervation after Perotto AO, Anatomical Guide for the Electromyographer, 5th ed. 2011 — an anatomical reference, not an electrode placement recommendation.

Clinical applications (SENIAM)

Gait analysis and foot drop assessment
Achilles tendinopathy monitoring
Proprioceptive training after ankle injury

Test Movement

Dorsiflexion of the foot with inversion against resistance

Detail: sensor on the M. Tibialis Anterior — Illustration shows the left side; the set-up is mirrored for the right side.

MVC reference test (Konrad 2005)

Position: Seated or supine, ankle in neutral position, unilateral dorsiflexion.
Fixation: Lower leg supported; manual fixation is usually sufficient.
Resistance: Manual resistance on the dorsum of the foot, dorsiflexion against it.

Konrad: the tibialis anterior can usually be fixed by manual resistance; work unilaterally.

Konrad P. The ABC of EMG. Noraxon; 2005, p. 32. Konrad describes this test at group level; it applies to all muscles of the group. · Why and how to normalise to MVC

Measure M. Tibialis Anterior activity live

The electrode is placed — what next? easyEMG visualises muscle activity in real time, with SENIAM-compliant placement guidance, up to 4 channels at once and biofeedback training right afterwards.

In screening, this muscle is usually recorded together with its synergists — running several channels in parallel saves the most time.

EMG mapping & muscle analysis → What is EMG biofeedback? PicoBlue sensors

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I place the EMG electrode on the M. Tibialis Anterior?

1/3 on line from fibular head to medial malleolus. Orientation: Parallel to line fibular head-medial malleolus. Based on the official SENIAM recommendations (Hermens et al. 2000).

Which test movement activates the M. Tibialis Anterior?

Dorsiflexion of the foot with inversion against resistance. This movement is part of the SENIAM protocol for standardized contraction verification.

Is the M. Tibialis Anterior a SENIAM-recommended muscle?

Yes. The M. Tibialis Anterior is one of 26 muscles for which the SENIAM project has published official surface EMG electrode placement recommendations.

M. Tibialis Anterior

Electrode Placement (SENIAM)