Shin Splints

What is it?

Tibialis Anterior and / or Tibialis Posterior tendonitis or “shin splints” generally refers to pain anywhere along the shinbone (tibia) between the knee and the ankle. It occurs as a result of damage and inflammation of the tendons and muscles that run up the shin. Shin splints are commonly seen in runners and athletes. Signs and symptoms may include pain along the front inside edge of the shin. Pain may also exist on the inner back side of the leg. The area may be tender to the touch and in some cases can become red and swollen. The pain of shin splints may be able to be reproduced by pointing the foot and toes down, but it is mostly aggravated by activity and exercise. A doctor may consider an x-ray to rule out stress fractures and other conditions.

How did I get it?

The primary cause of shin splints is the overuse of the involved muscle and tendon. This can happen with an increase in exercise levels, repetitive movements as in running and other stresses to the lower leg such as hard or changing running surfaces. Another major contributor to shin splints is over-pronation or arch flattening. The muscles in your leg that are primarily involved are the tibialis anterior and tibialis posterior muscles. These muscles help support the arch. When your arch flattens these muscles can become overworked and start to break down causing pain and inflammation.

How is it treated?

The initial goal in the relieving the symptoms of shin splints is to reduce the inflammation and any symptoms of pain that may be present. The next step is to address the underlying cause of the symptoms associated with shin splints.

Exercise:

Stretching and strengthening exercises are aimed at lengthening and strengthening muscles in your lower leg to take the stress off your shins. Exercises that make your muscles stronger are usually effective in prevention of a recurrence once your shin splints have healed.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents:

These may include ice and oral anti-inflammatory medications. Ice can be applied directly to the painful areas of your shin. A compressive elastic bandage can be helpful if there is any swelling. These may provide some temporary relief from the pain of inflammation, but are not helpful in addressing the underlying causes of your condition.

Rest and Avoidance:

Rest is often recommended to reduce inflammation and swelling. You may be advised to decrease your training time or distance until your shins have a chance to heal. You may also be advised to avoid activities such as running and try biking or swimming until your shin can heal. It is important to remember that although rest may decrease your pain temporarily, it does not address the reason why you have shin splints.

Surgery:

In very rare cases that do not respond to conservative measures, surgery may be considered to repair muscles and tendons that are severely damaged.

Custom Foot Orthotics:

Custom Biomechanical Arch Supports called CBA's can help alleviate Shin Splints by addressing the root cause associated with Shin Splints. CBA's restore arch height and function of an individual foot by completely supporting it, only allowing the arch to flex accurately at a calibrated rate. By restoring arch height and function then completely supporting the arch will effectively help the shin splints by

This page provides a general overview on this topic and may not apply to everyone. Please talk to your health care provider to address your individual situation.