The term shin splints is the name given to the disorder known as periostitis. Other names such as medial tibial stress syndrome, anterior tibial pain and posterior tibial shin splints are used to describe the placement of pain from the disorder. Contrary to popular belief, running in a stability shoe does not cause medial shin splints, but rather can help to prevent the injury from occurring.
Symptoms
If you are suffering from discomfort in the lower leg, especially if the pain is inside the lower half of the shin, you may have shin splints. Some other physical symptoms that may be present in cases of shin splints are redness of the shin or bumps that can be felt on the lower shin. You may experience a strong pain at the beginning of a workout session that eases over time or returns after physical activity and may worsen by the next morning.
Causes
Shin splints are an injury that can affect both elite and recreational athletes. The most common cause of shin splints is an inflammation of the periostium or the sheath covering that surrounds the tibia. Traction on the periostium from the muscles of the lower leg may lead to shin pain and irritation. Shin splints can also be caused by swelling or irritation to any of the muscles and tendons of the lower leg as a result of over training or overexertion.
Treatment
Typically, shin splints can be treated at home through the use of the RICE protocol: rest, ice, compression, elevation. Rest from injuries that aggravate your shin splints for two to four weeks depending on the severity of the injury. Use crushed ice, ice packs or ice cups to apply ice to the area for 20 minutes at a time. Apply a compression bandage to help reduce inflammation and elevate your injured leg when sitting down. As the pain begins to dissipate you may find other activities such as biking and swimming are suitable replacements to running until symptoms are gone.
Prevention
Taping and the application of compression bandages to the lower leg are common methods used to prevent shin splints, however, determining the best type of shoe for your running style may be the best option. Participating in a gait analysis or administering an at-home simple method known as the wet test can help to give you an idea of how your foot reacts when it strikes the ground as you are running. A wet test involves wetting your foot and stepping on a paper bag to determine whether you may be overpronator, neutral or underpronator during running. It is common for individuals who overpronate to wear a stability shoe that helps to keep the foot from rolling too far inward as they run which helps to reduce the risk of developing many types of injuries in the lower leg region including shin splints.
Member Comments