Shin Splints

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The shin gives your leg support and strength. Shin splints are a common condition that causes pain along the shinbone (tibia) — the large bone in the front of your lower leg. Shin splints often occur when you change or increase your level of physical activity, such as starting a new fitness program. They can also happen if you’ve had a recent growth spurt. Shin splints can also be caused by overpronation, which is when your foot rolls inward too much when you walk or run. This can put extra stress on the muscles and bones in your lower leg.

Shin splints are usually seen in runners, but they can also occur in other athletes, such as dancers and basketball players.

There are two common types of shin splints:

  1. Medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) is the most common type of shin splint. It happens when the muscles and tendons along the inside of your shinbone get overloaded and irritated.
  2. Anterior compartment syndrome occurs when the muscles in the front of your lower leg become too tight. This can cause the nerves in that area to become compressed.

Shin Splits Treatment

There are several things we  can do and recommend to treat shin splints, including:

  • Rest. Take a break from your regular physical activity for at least a week.
  • Ice. Place an ice pack on your shin for 20 minutes at a time, several times a day.
  • Compression. Wear an elastic compression bandage around your lower leg to help reduce swelling.
  • Elevation. Prop your leg up on a pillow when you’re sitting or lying down.
  • Stretching and strengthening exercises. Once the pain from shin splints has gone away, slowly start adding exercises that stretch and strengthen the muscles in your lower leg back into your routine.

Our feet specialists have the necessary experience and skills to treat shin splints in an effective manner. Contact us right away for more information.