Active children and leg pain go hand in hand. Bumps, bruises, cuts and scrapes are among the minor injuries to the shins that your child might encounter during her young life. Shin pain that is not related to a skin wound might indicate an overuse injury. Speak to your child's pediatrician to determine the cause of her shin pain.
Causes
Shin pain in a child is most likely a case of overuse of the muscles and tendons in the lower leg. Children who participate in organized sports have a higher chance of experiencing shin pain due to the pounding on pavement or constant jumping involved in sports, like running or the jumping events in track and field. Shin splints, or medial tibial stress syndrome, occurs when the tendons attached to the tibia, or shin bone, become irritated. A stress fracture of the shin is the inflammation and irritation of one of the lower leg bones, the fibula or tibia. Compartment syndrome is another cause of shin pain in children, and is the overuse of the muscles in one or more compartments of the lower leg.
Symptoms
Your child's shin pain may vary in intensity, location and timing, depending on the cause of the injury. Shin splint pain tends to hurt more when a youngster is engaged in running or a similar activity and becomes more intense throughout the workout. The entire shin area might ache and become tender to the touch. Stress fractures are more painful right at the point of the fracture and are often painful to the touch. Symptoms of compartment syndrome are a general aching of the muscles in your child's lower leg; numbness of the foot may also occur.
Diagnosis
Your child's doctor diagnoses shin pain primarily through a physical examination -- checking the leg for tenderness -- and a medical history. The doctor will ask your child when he experiences pain, where in the shin the discomfort occurs and how long the pain lasts. Imaging technology in the form of an X-ray may be used to confirm a stress fracture.
Treatment
Treatment for your child's shin pain varies according to the exact nature of the injury. All forms of shin pain that are exercise-induced require a period of rest to let the shin heal; time off from sporting events can last from a few days to several weeks in the case of a stress fracture. Icing the shins in 15-minute increments relieves some of the pain and reduces inflammation. Your child may also gain relief from over-the-counter non-steroid anti-inflammatory medications. Treatment for shin pain includes wearing appropriate footwear during physical activity; proper arch support is a factor in both preventing and treating shin splints. Calf stretches, such as wall pushups or toe walking, are also beneficial forms of rehabilitation once your child's pain subsides.
