Shin Splints

What are shin splints?

"Shin splints" (i.e. Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome) is the general term for pain at the front of the lower leg. "Shin splints" is not the diagnosis but a description of symptoms, of which there could be a number of causes. The most common cause is inflammation of the outer lining of the lower leg bone (i.e. tibia).

Traction and pulling forces from the muscles of the lower leg on the periostium can cause shin pain and inflammation.

What does it feel like?

Shin splits causes pain along the inside of the shin. It involves lower leg pain which goes away after a period of rest, but comes back when running starts again. Small bumps may also be felt along the inside of the shin bone.

What can you do?

You should rest to allow the injury to heal. Apply ice or cold therapy 10 to 15 minutes at a time in the early stages, particularly when it is very painful as it reduces pain and inflamation. You should also stretch the muscles of the lower leg.

What can we do to help you?

Our doctors can prescribe pain medications to provide relief and analyse running style for over pronation and other biomechanical problems of the foot.

We may also engage in sports physiotherapy which can include stretching, strengthening, taping and correcting of biomechanical errors. Listed below are some of the exercises which may be prescribed by your physiotherapist.

• Single leg mini squat
• Bulgarian squat
• Star excursion
• Running man on trampoline
• Lateral box jump
• Step ups
• Forward lunges
• Single leg ½ squats
• Standing gastroc stretch
• Soleus lunge stretch
• Single leg chair stands