Do I have Shin Splints?

Are you suffering from pain down the inside of your shin? Did this pain start after returning to sport? Or did you recently start to become active e.g. Running, which brought the pain on?

If you are answering yes to these questions then there is every chance you may be suffering from Shin Splints, or as the medical world calls it Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS)

So, what are Shin Splints?

• Shin splints is an exercise-induced pain in which is commonly felt in the lower half of the inside of the leg
• This pain is typically brought on by activities that involve running and jumping

What causes Shin Splints?

Truth be told, we still don’t know for certain, there are 2 theories:

• Muscles are causing the pain due to their attachment to the tibia (one of the 2 bones in your leg) and pull on it causing pain.
• Too much stress is going through the tibia due to an increase in running etcetera which may also be causing the pain you feel.

Shin splints is the most common musculoskeletal condition to affect runners. It affects up to 10% of runners.

Some risk factors include:

• Poor running shoes
• Running on hard surfaces
• Doing too much too soon
• Females, due to changes in hormones
• Obesity

How can a physiotherapist help?

• First of all, determine if you are indeed suffering from Shin Splints
• Load management to ensure you are not exceeding your bodies capabilities
• Analyse your running technique and make adjustments if necessary
• Strengthen the surrounding muscles to help you run further pain free
• Soft tissue massage
• Taping to aid in off-loading

Shin splints can be very restrictive, however, with early treatment Physio can be very effective.