Shin splints
Shin splints is a term for pain felt anywhere from along the shinbone from knee to ankle. Shin splints are common in runners and dancers.
What Causes Shin Splints?
Shin splints are caused by overstraining of your muscles where they attach to your shin.
The most common cause is overuse or overtraining associated with poor foot and leg biomechanics.
Most common causes:
Injuries such as “Shin Splints” are usually brought on by a number of different factors including:
- Flat feet or high arched feet
- Recent increase in exercise levels
- Poor or inappropriate footwear
- Poor running biomechanics
- Tight muscles
- Hard training surface
- Inappropriate footwear
- Increasing your training too quickly
- Poor gluteal control in walking
- Poor core stability
- Tight calf muscles, hamstrings
- Weak quadriceps
What are the Symptoms of Shin Splints?
- Shin splints cause dull, aching pain in the front of the lower leg
- Can be painful at the beginning or following exercise
- Tenderness and pain with palpation along the shin bone
- No rest pain or swelling is usually experienced
Treatment options
- Ice 20mins each day & after exercise
- REST & Modify your exercise
- Stretching/Massage/Dry needling to calf muscles
- Changing footwear
- Orthotics (Custom insoles)
- Ankle & Foot mobilisation
- Assess your running technique
If left untreated, your “Shin Splints” may develop into a stress fracture which is more severe and will require a longer time to resolve. The physiotherapists at Revive Physio will treat you with sift tissue massage, trigger point therapy, dry needling, and a home exercise program including stretching and strengthening.