Shin Splints – Details and Description
Shin splints are a common lower extremity complaint, common among the sprinters and athletes. It’s associated with pain inside or in front of the lower leg caused by over stressing the muscles. Pain develops with time even if the patient has no history of trauma. It leads to severe pain along the front or inside the shin (Tibia) after running, walking or intense training.
The area in and around the shin bone develops some small bumps and tender regions. If the pain is not addressed in time, it may become intense. Shin splints should not go untreated as this makes the patient more vulnerable to stress fractures.
Shin splints can lead to small tears in the leg muscles, which are attached to the shin bone. There are of two types – posterior shin splints that appear inside the leg along the tibia and the anterior shin splints occurring along the lateral (outside) leg of the tibia.
Symptoms of shin splints
Pain in front of the leg below the knee. Characteristically, shin splints result in pain on the outer edge of the mid region of the leg next to the shin bone (tibia). The area of discomfort extends up to 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) in length. Pain is often felt in the early period of the workout. Although the pain is reduced for a while, however it reappears when the training ends. The discomfort due to shin splint is dull at first. If the activity continues, the pain can become so severe that the patient will have to stop working out for a period of time.
Sometimes shin pain is due to inflammation of connective tissue like periosteum (periostitis, thin covering over bone). It can be quite painful due to a stress fracture in the bone or any other problem such as osteosarcoma (bone tumor). However, pain in the lower leg may also erupt from a different area of the body, for example the lower back.
What causes shin splints?
Usually the major cause of shin splints is a sudden bump up in the intensity of workout or activity. Shin splints might also result from a weak ankle muscles or a tight Achilles tendon.
There are several factors responsible for shin splints. These include:
Over stressing – Doing tough exercises, or over exercising above your normal level of fitness may lead to strain tendons, bones, muscles and joints. Overuse is one of the major causes of shin splints.
Flat feet – The shin muscles sustain arch of the foot. Those with flat feet suffer the risk of pulling shin tendons, which might lead to slight tearing.
Incorrect technique – Poor style of running such as rolling the feet inwards (pronation) might lead to straining of muscles. This also causes straining of the muscles or tendons.
Wrong running shoes – Wearing wrong type of shoes while running can lead to injuries in the shin muscles and tendons.
High impact activities – Shin splints might also occur due to running on the hard or uneven surfaces.
Diagnosis of shin splints
Usually shin splints are diagnosed during examination. Through a careful review of the patient’s medical history, the doctor can determine a case of spin splints. A physical examination is conducted to check the local tenderness of shin and legs. If necessary, specialized tests such as bone scans, X-rays or MRI scan can be used to detect fracture in the tibia bone.
Treatment of shin splints
There are two different conventional strategies for treating shin splints - "run through it" approach and total rest. The first is not quite effective and may lead to worsening of the injury.
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