The Tib Bar Review By A Doctor of Physical Therapy (Tib Bar Guy)

Have you been wondering what tib bar is best on the market to purchase? Or maybe you are wondering if it's even worth the price at all?

By the end of this article, you are going to have a complete answer!

But first I am going to briefly mention WHY its important to train this muscle in the first place... Ben Patrick or "Knees Over Toes Guy" has popularized this long neglected muscle. He has done a great job educating the public on why training the tibialis is import. However, I think he's missed mentioning the most important aspect of the tibialis!

A strong tibialis can help reduce the likelihood of you developing things such as shin splints, ankle sprains, or knee pain while playing your sport of choice. But in my opinion, these are all short term benefits of training the tibialis. The REAL benefit and LONG TERM benefit of having a strong tibialis is that this muscle group is the one that starts to atrophy very early as you age. Ever wonder why your grandma keeps telling your grandpa to pick up his feet while walking so that he doesn't shuffle his feet and trip/fall?

It's not because he is lazy! It's because he has a weak tibialis and can't actively dorsiflex his foot through a large enough range of motion against gravity to clear the floor and heel strike.

It's also why telling your grandparents to "pick your feet up while walking" will never work...That just turns to marching (or using your hip flexors)...No one is going to march for a mile straight let alone 10 feet in the grocery store! Which is why they will continue to shuffle along until they get a stronger tibialis...

Now as for you, the fitness forward individual! You will be better off, because you will never let yourself get a weak tibialis! So go ahead and train your tibialis for your sport and athletic lifestyle. But never forget that this investment now, will help you for years to come!

Bodyweight Tib Raises

Benefits of Bodyweight Tib Raises:

1. No equipment purchase necessary!

Negatives of Bodyweight Tib Rases:

1. Very limited scalability, strength and endurance will plateau very quickly
2. No alternative exercise selection
3. For some (mostly elderly and deconditioned individuals) the bodyweight variation is too challenging. These people likely already shuffle their feet while walking. As a fitness professional or physical therapist, you will work with/treat this people. You need to have an implement that allows you to train the tibialis! 

Weighted Tib Raises Without Tib Bar

Benefits of No Tib Bar, Weighted Tib Raises:

1. Might not need to purchase anything, many gyms have kettlebells or dumbbells laying around.
2. To a degree, provides progressive overload
3. Allows for freedom of other exercises such as ankle circles and hip flexor march.

Negatives of No Tib Bar, Weighted Tib Raises:

1. Extremely annoying and time consuming to strap a dumbbell around the foot and then change to other foot
2. Kettlebell is easier than dumbbell, but some handles are too small for the foot
3. Kettlebell can get very uncomfortable on top of the foot when using heavier loads
4. Kettlebell is still awkward to get on and off (especially elderly or those who lack flexibility). If try to do ankle circles, kettlebell will tend to fall off!

Tib Bar Benefits:

1. Provides progressive overload for ALL people
2. Can do other exercises such as Bilateral hanging leg raises, and knee extensions

Tib Bar Negatives:

1. Cost (however, very reasonably priced for materials and shipping)
2. Both feet or locked in. Person can compensate if one leg is stronger - in my opinion, its biggest downfall as I work in rehab. But will still be problematic as many people have asymmetries from previous injuries.
3. Doesn't allow for full range of motion. The Tibialis will dorsiflex the foot AS WELL AS inverts the foot. The bilateral bar locks the foot into inversion and limits the normal rotation of the joint. 

Solo Tib Bar Positives:

1. Provides progressive overload for ALL people
2. Can do other exercises such as ankle circles, hip flexor march, hanging leg raises, and knee extensions
3. Allows for ankle rotation fully!
4. Helps you fix any asymmetries!

Solo Tib Bar Negatives:

1. Cost (however, very reasonably priced for materials and shipping)

Final Conclusions

If you are a fitness professional or rehab professional then it is my opinion you MUST have a device that allows you to train the tibialis! The tib solo bar is my personal go-to for the reasons mentioned above.

If you are a fitness enthusiast or athlete training, having access to progressive loading is key. The ankle circles are also clutch for athletes foot health as they get put into some awkward positions. If you have the means, I would still recommend the tib solo bar! But if finances are a concern, using a kettlebell or dumbbell at the gym is totally fine too. For someone not into fitness, just being able to do the bodyweight version is sufficient for long term health. However, if they cannot perform bodyweight raises. Then it is necessary to have access to a device or weight!

If you would like to purchase the Tib Solo Bar, you can do so HERE!

P.S. - also check out the "Slant Stack" it's a the best step up platform and slant board on the market as well in my opinion (and it is conveniently combined into a stackable platform for you!)