Children like to play hard and often don't take the time to warm up before plunging into sports and running games. That can be a recipe for shin splints. The painful condition can afflict children and adults, but there are ways to treat shin splints and there are steps you can take to help to prevent them.
Definition
The medical term for this overuse injury is medial tibia stress injury, but most people know this running-related condition as "shin splints." According to the Mayo Clinic, the term shin splints refers to pain along the shinbone, or tibia, which is the large bone in the front of your lower leg. When there's an overload on the shinbone and the tissues that attach your muscles to the bone, pain can occur.
Causes
If your child trains too hard, too fast or for too long, he may be at risk for shin splints. The Mayo Clinic notes that shin splints also may occur from activities such as running downhill, running on a slanted or tilted surface or participating in sports such as tennis and basketball that involve a lot of frequent stops and starts. If your child's shoes are worn out or don't fit properly, that could put him at risk of getting shin splints, too.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Doctors can diagnose shin splints by asking about your child's medical history and doing an in-office exam. If the doctor suspects a stress fracture is contributing to the pain, he might order an x-ray or other imaging study. A number of different treatment options are possible, depending on the severity of the pain. The options include rest, icing the affected area, elevating the shins to reduce swelling or taking an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
Prevention
Nobody wants to see children in pain, so make sure you and your children take some simple steps to help prevent shin splints from occurring in the first place. Kids Health recommends that children do high-impact sports on tracks or wooden basketball courts and try to avoid hard surfaces such as concrete. Get in the habit of doing warm-ups appropriate for the sport or activity. The Mayo Clinic advises all runners and athletes to start new activities slowly, and to gradually build up time and intensity. Build leg strength with toe raises, and if your child is old enough, work out on a leg press. Wear shoes appropriate for the sport.
Getting the Right Shoes
The wrong shoes can aggravate shin splints, and the right shoes may help to prevent the condition. Children's Hospital Boston recommends that when you take your child shopping for shoes, she should be wearing the kind of socks she would wear for her sport. Have both feet measured and buy shoes to fit the larger foot. Go shopping near the end of the day when feet are slightly larger, and have her try on shoes in a number of brands until she finds the perfect fit. Even if your child hasn't outgrown them, replace sneakers every year---sooner if there's significant wear and tear.
