What are Shin Splints?
Also known as Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome, shin splints are a common injury that affect athletes and runners. Shin splints are characterized by pain in the lower region of the leg between the knee and ankle or in the middle to lower portion of the lateral part of the tibia, the larger of the two bones of the lower leg.
Shin splints can be caused by the following factors:
weak core muscles
running uphill, downhill or on uneven terrain or on hard surfaces
If your gait is off, shin splints can occur when the front of the shin gets overstressed and overused from lifting the toes during walking or running
Improper footwear and worn-out shoes
running on a hard surface without proper support
In order to prevent shin splints, here are our recommendations:
condition your body before start new activities
train and strengthen the larger muscle groups like hips and knees
warm up with exercises such as runners stretch, heel/toe raises, and regular squats before physical activity
If you’re unable to avoid getting shin splints while running, here is what you can expect:
you will develop a recurring dull or razor-like ache along the inner part of the tibia or shin
Shin splint pain will occur during all exercise and/or physical activity
touching the sore spot of your shin splint can aggravate the pain
there will be tenderness, soreness or pain along the inner side of your shinbone and mild swelling
the pain from shin splints may stop when you stop exercising
If the pain continues, it is important to treat your shin splints as it can progress to a stress reaction or stress fracture if not treated. At River Podiatry, our team is ready to serve and consult in order to help you safely run at all times. Set up an appointment today to speak with our team of trusted foot health professionals.
