Shin Splints
Shin splints or Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS) describes a dull achy pain along the lower two thirds of the inside of shin. It is an inflammatory condition in the front part of the shin bone. Swelling, heat and redness may be present along the inner part of the lower shin. At Stillorgan Podiatry Clinic we will be able to diagnose the condition for you and come up with a solution to manage and prevent it affecting your activity levels and quality of life.
Causes of Shin Splints
The main cause of shin splints is too much force on the shin bone (tibia) and the connective tissues that attach the bone to the surrounding muscle. Excessive impact on lower leg muscles also contributes to shin splints.
Risk Factors
Running on uneven surfaces
Sudden increase in the intensity or duration of exercise
Biomechanical issues in the feet and lower limb
Muscular and movement imbalances
Tightness in lower leg muscles
Improper Footwear
Signs and Symptoms
The dull aching pain brought on by shin splints usually occurs during exercise but can come about after physical exercise is over also. In extreme cases pain may be present all the time.
Pain along the lower inner part of the leg
Swelling and heat in the lower leg
Pain when palpating along the inner part of the shin bone
Numbness/tingling in the lower leg as swollen muscles can put pressure and irritate the nerves in the lower leg
Treatments
At Stillorgan Podiatry Clinic we will come up with a treatment plan to get you active and moving again.
Rest — Running through the pain is a common mistake made by people with shin splints. Running through the pain and not allowing time for the injury to heal can make it worse. It is best to avoid all activities that aggravates the pain.
Medication —Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) such as Ibuprofen can help decrease inflammation in the area therefore relieving some of the pain being experienced.
Custom made orthotics — Custom made foot orthotics can help correct biomechanical issues. They can reduce levels of over-pronation and redistribute pressures evenly in the foot.
Ice — Ice the affected area with an ice pack. Ice for 20 minutes at a time.
Stretches — A stretching programme tailored to you can be prescribed to help stretch out the tight muscles that may be causing the shin splints.
Strengthening — A programme to strengthen the posterior leg muscles and the intrinsic muscles of the foot have been shown as important and useful in the prevention of shin splints.
Footwear: Wearing proper fitting footwear with good support. When running wearing shoes with good shock absorption and cushioning helps support and take impact off the feet.
Differential Diagnosis — If your shin splints aren’t responding to the treatment methods listed above your podiatrist may send you for imaging (X-Ray or MRI) as your injury may be a stress fracture. A stress fracture of the tibia is a small crack in the bine due to overuse and stress on the bone.
Oisin Kelly — Podiatrist
BSc (Hons) Podiatric Medicine
Stillorgan Podiatry Clinic