Shin splints, the catch-all term for lower leg pain that occurs below the knee either on the front outside part of the leg (anterior shin splints) or the inside of the leg (medial shin splints), are the bane of many athletes, runners, tennis players, even dancers. They often plague beginning runners who do not build their mileage gradually enough or seasoned runners who abruptly change their workout regimen, suddenly adding too much mileage, for example, or switching from running on flat surfaces to hills. The nature of shin splints, also known as medial tibial stress syndrome (mtss), most often can be captured in four words: too much, too soon. Treating shin pain from shin splints with ice pack Identifying symptoms of shin splints Shin pain doesn t always mean you have shin splints. It might be a sign of some other problem. The following are two conditions that are sometimes mistakenly diagnosed as shin splints. Pain on the anterior (outside) part of the lower leg may be compartment syndrome a swelling of muscles within a closed compartment which creates pressure. To diagnose this condition, special techniques are used to measure the amount of pressure. Sometimes surgical decompression is required. The symptoms of compartment syndrome include leg pain, unusual nerve sensations, and eventually muscle weakness. Pain in the lower leg could also be a stress fracture (an incomplete crack in the bone), which is a far more serious injury than shin splints. A bone scan is the definitive tool for diagnosing a stress fracture. However, there are clues you can look for that will signal whether or not you should get a bone scan. The pain of shin splints is also more generalized than that of a stress fracture. Press your fingertips along your shin, and if you can find a definite spot of sharp pain, it s a sign of a stress fracture. Additionally, stress fractures often feel better in the morning because the bone has rested all night; they often feel worse in the morning because the soft tissue tightens overnight. Shin splints are also at their most painful when you forcibly try to lift your foot up at the ankle and flex your foot. Common causes of shin splints There can be a number of factors at work, such as overpronation (a frequent cause of medial shin splints), inadequate stretching, worn shoes, or excessive stress placed on one leg or one hip from running on cambered roads or always running in the same direction on a track. Typically, one leg is involved and it is almost always the runner s dominant one. If you re right-handed, you re usually right-footed as well, and that s the leg that s going to hurt. The most common site for shin splints is the medial area (the inside of the shin). Anterior shin splints (toward the outside of the leg) usually result from an imbalance between the calf muscles and the muscles in the front of your leg, and often afflict beginners who either have not yet adjusted to the stresses of running or are not stretching enough. But what exactly is a shin splint? there s no end-all consensus among sports scientists, and theories have included small tears in the muscle that s pulled off the bone, an inflammation of the periosteum [a thin sheath of tissue that wraps around the tibia, or shin bone], an inflammation of the muscle, or some combination of these. Fortunately, medical experts agree on how to treat them. Treatment of shin splints Experts agree that when shin splints strike you should stop running completely or decrease your training depending on the extent and duration of pain. Then, as a first step, ice your shin to reduce inflammation. Here are some other treatments you can try: Gently stretch your achilles if you have medial shin splints, and your calves if you have anterior shin splints. Also, try this stretch for your shins: kneel on a carpeted floor, legs and feet together and toes pointed directly back. Then slowly sit back onto your calves and heels, pushing your ankles into the floor until you feel tension in the muscles of your shin. Hold for 10 to 12 seconds, relax and repeat. In a sitting position, trace the alphabet on the floor with your toes. Do this with each leg. Or alternate walking on your heels for 30 seconds with 30 seconds of regular walking. Repeat four times. These exercises are good for both recovery and prevention. Try to do them three times a day. If you continue running, wrap your leg before you go out. Use either tape or an ace bandage, starting just above the ankle and continuing to just below the knee. Keep wrapping your leg until the pain goes away, which usually takes three to six weeks. what you re doing is binding the tendons up against the shaft of the shin to prevent stress, laps says. Consider cross-training for a while to let your shin heal. Swim, run in the pool or ride a bike. When you return to running, increase your mileage slowly, no more than 10 percent weekly. Make sure you wear the correct running shoes for your foot type specifically, overpronators should wear motion-control shoes. Severe overpronators may need orthotics. Have two pairs of shoes and alternate wearing them to vary the stresses on your legs. Avoid hills and excessively hard surfaces until shin pain goes away completely, then re-introduce them gradually to prevent a recurrence. If you frequently run on roads with an obvious camber, run out and back on the same side of the road. Likewise, when running on a track, switch directions. If you are prone to developing shin splints, stretch your calves and achilles regularly as a preventive measure.

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Health Query

Greetings. I am preparing for Telangana SI exam in that competition running competition is there while I am practicing running I am getting SHIN PAIN even I can't running. Please suggest me please.

Dr. Venkatesh Mishra90%(188 ratings)

Doctor of Osteopath, MSPT (Master of Phy...read more

Physiotherapist•Lucknow

Hi, Correct your running techniques Do icing Take good shoes Take foam roller to roll you shin it gives great relief.

Health Query

Hi Sir, I am 19 year old. Sir muje running karte time shin pain hota please kuch suggest.

Dr. Pankaj Das90%(171 ratings)

Master of Physiotherapy, Bachelor in Phy...read more

Physiotherapist•Guwahati

Hi wear a proper sports shoe while running. If there's more pain still you need to get evaluated for faulty mechanics during running. If you are a beginner need to strengthen your leg muscles. And slowly need to start running at pace prescribed for you. For more details consult as online. Regards.

Last Updated: 7 years ago• Featured Tip

Shin Splints

Dr. Sujitkumar Vakati R92%(97 ratings)

MS - Orthopaedics, M Ch. Ortho, Shoulder...read more

Orthopedic Doctor•Hyderabad

Shin splints, the catch-all term for lower leg pain that occurs below the knee either on the front outside part of the leg (anterior shin splints) or the inside of the leg (medial shin splints), are the bane of many athletes, runners, tennis players, even dancers. They often plague beginning runners who do not build their mileage gradually enough or seasoned runners who abruptly change their workout regimen, suddenly adding too much mileage, for example, or switching from running on flat surface...more

Health Query

Sir, When I am running I have shin splints I have been this problem for 3 weeks please solve this problem.

Dr. Saurabh Gupta87%(70 ratings)

Mch Orthopaedic, DNB (Orthopedics), Dipl...read more

Orthopedist•Raipur

Firstly get an xray of leg done to properly diagnose your problem. Take rest. Avoid running. Wear propet shoes. If pain is severe than take over the conter anti-inflammatory drugs.

Asked for female, 54 years old from Kolkata

I am 54 years old, Female (Indian) -Never used tobacco & alcohol. Height-5 feet 1 inch, weight-62.5 kgs. Had hysterectomy & bilateral salpingo oophorectomy 10 years ago for multiple benign cysts & lap chole 4 months ago for gallbladder stones. Shin bone pain in right leg, sometimes mild, sometimes severe. Taking multivitamins & calcium tablet daily with Dr's advice. Still having the shin bone pain. It is less in day & severe at night. I do not run, jog & exercise. I was never sports person or athlete. At the time of lap chole 4 months, I did many tests. Everything clear except enlarged diffuse fatty liver (19 cm). I have done chest x-ray PA view, USG total abdomen, liver function test, pancreatic enzyme test (amylase & lipase, hepatitis B & C, creatinine,HIV-everything was clear). What is the cause of shin bone pain?

Dr. Girish Dani94%(16521 ratings)

MD - Obstetrtics & Gynaecology, FCPS, DG...read more

Gynaecologist•Mumbai

Meet orthopaedic surgeon. Doing test for serum calcium and vit D will help but that will be advised by orthopaedic surgeon. Taking good quality and quantity protein with calcium helps.

Health Query

Wht is the cure for medial shin splint? I get acute pain in my muscles while training for cricket because of which im not able to give my 100%

Dr. Nazima92%(1419 ratings)

MD PHYSICIAN

General Physician•Delhi

Shin splints typically develop after vigrous physical activity. They are often associated with running. Simple measures can relieve the pain of shin splints. Rest, ice, and stretching often help.
1) Rest. Because shin splints are typically caused by overuse, standard treatment includes several weeks of rest from the activity that caused the pain. Lower impact types of aerobic activity can be substituted during your recovery, such as swimming, using a stationary bike, or an elliptical trainer...more

Health Query

What are some remedies for shin splints? It is very painful after jumping, skipping, or running.

Dr. P Nagaraj

FRHS, Ph.D Neuro , MPT - Neurology Phys...read more

Physiotherapist•Chennai

Do have proper balanced diet and hydrated and learn Stretching and strengthening exercises from physiotherapist Best wishes.

105 people found this helpful

Health Query

I am diagnosed with tmj disc displacement in 2014. It gets me severe pain in my head. When I use splint I am relieved from headache. But I feel pain in my front teeth. When I put off splint sometimes later again pain starts in my head. Please suggest me any treatment to reposition my disc.

Dr. Prem Chand90%(2810 ratings)

MBBS, Craniosacral Balancing, Quantum To...read more

Pain Management Specialist•Panchkula

You must have gone for reduction of the joint.
If it recurring then at no meditation clinic effects on body r treated with powerful techniques like craniosacral balancing n quantum touch which work on whole body. & it is all available online also.
For any type of stress mind management is available which is simple easy less time taking **which is not available anywhere You can be super performer in any aspect of life in just 5 to 7 hrs. Mind comes to know in 1st meeting that yes the abov...more

113 people found this helpful

Last Updated: 7 years ago• Featured Tip

Shin Splints - Causes And Symptoms!

Dr. Radhakrishnan Paulraj

MBBS, MS - Orthopaedics

Orthopedic Doctor•Chennai

Shin splints' is a condition, which is characterized by pain in the shin bone, the bone that is present in front of the leg. Shin splints tend to occur quite frequently in runners and dancers as their activities tend to stress the shin bone.

Causes
When excess force is applied to the shinbone, it may result in swelling of the muscles, causing pain and inflammation. It may also occur from stress reactions to fractures in the bone. Cracks tend to develop due to constant applicati...more

Last Updated: 8 years ago• Featured Tip