The tibialis anterior muscle is mainly involved in which movement during gait?

• A. Dorsiflexion of the foot
• B. Plantarflexion of the foot
• C. Knee extension
• D. Hip abduction

Answer: (A)

During gait, the primary action of the tibialis anterior is dorsiflexion of the foot. It lifts the front of the foot upward, which is essential for clearing the toes during the swing phase and for controlling the foot position as the heel strikes the ground (often through eccentric contraction to decelerate plantarflexion). While it can contribute to inversion of the foot, its main movement in walking is dorsiflexion. Plantarflexion is mainly produced by the calf muscles, knee extension by the quadriceps, and hip abduction by the hip abductors, so those movements are not the primary role of this muscle during gait.