Find your shin muscle
Try it: sit down and put your fingers just beside the hard front edge of your shin bone, on the outside of your leg.
Now keep your heel on the floor and lift your toes up toward your nose. Feel the muscle bulge? That's your tibialis anterior.
Tibialis means 'of the tibia,' your shin bone. Anterior means 'in front.' So it's the muscle in front of your shin bone.
No slapping feet
When you walk, your heel touches the ground first. Then your foot lowers down.
Your shin muscle lowers it slowly and gently, so your foot doesn't go 'slap!' on the ground.
Then, as your leg swings forward, it lifts your toes so they don't catch on the ground and trip you.
Try it: walk around on your heels with your toes in the air. Your shin muscles are doing all the work!
Partners with your calves
Your calf muscles point your toes down. Your shin muscle pulls them back up. They're partners, like two kids on a seesaw at your ankle.
Your shin muscle also helps hold up the arch on the inside of your foot.