What are shin splints?
What causes shin splints?
Have you ever went for a long run, or done an intense workout and had tenderness or swelling along your shin bone afterwards? It is possible that you have suffered from shin splints, also known as medial tibial stress syndrome. Shin splints can be caused by an inflammation of the periosteum of the tibia, muscle overuse causing swelling, and stress fractures of the bone. The periosteum is the covering surrounding the bone, which can become irritated from the repetitive forces of the muscles on the lower leg. These repetitive forces and constant loading can sometimes cause minute fractures in the bone that can lead to a stress fracture. The increased stress on the tissues could be from overuse, improper training techniques, poor shoe wear, poor foot mechanics, and muscle weakness.
Shin splints are very common in runners and dancers. It is also common if someone has recently ramped up their workout, or changed their routine. Running downhill or on uneven terrain increases your chances as well. People suffering from shin splints will often complain of an ache on either side of the shin bone, and the pain can be constant. The pain often develops during exercise, and some swelling may be noted. They may also notice that their muscles are tender, and may complain of numbness and weakness in the feet.
To treat shin splints, it is often recommended to rest from high impact activities and ice your legs. Over the counter anti-inflammatories such as Ibuprofen are often recommended, as well as wearing a compression stocking. Physical therapy is often prescribed to aid in stretching and strengthening the appropriate muscles in the leg, as well as identifying the causative factors and making adjustments to the patient’s exercise regimen.
