Shin Splints. Causes, Treatment, Diagnosis.

shin splints

The term shin-splints is quite often used to describe any pain in the leg between the ankle and the knee but this is incorrect. The lower leg is comprised of 3 compartments, and it depends on which muscles are injured and causing the pain that determines the proper treatment. The term medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) is a much better definition of the injury and separates it from other injuries like compartment syndrome and stress fractures

Shin splints occur a few inches below the knee on the inner or medial side of the leg. The pain is situated in the posterior tibial tendon and or muscle. This muscle starts below the knee on the tibia and wraps around the inside of the ankle, and attaches to the bottom of the foot. This causes a pulley type action that generates a lot of force at either end. If a person runs too much, or if the feet are not operating correctly then the muscle can become overstretched and pull excessively at the point where it attaches to the tibia.

MTSS usually occurs in unconditioned people who begin a new running or jumping activity or experienced runners who increase or change their distance or speed or change their type of shoe or running terrain. MTSS also affects people who have flat feet because the mechanics of the foot increase stress on the soleus muscle.

There is no quick fix or cure for the treatment of shin splints. The healing process can take several weeks or months depending on the individual and the severity of the injury. In order to allow the inflamed tissue to heal, it's recommended that you stop running.

During the initial recovery period, try low-impact workouts, such as pool running, stationary cycling and elliptical machines. Icing the inflamed area on a regular basis and using anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen and voltaren, will reduce the swelling. Ultrasound treatments can also be beneficial.

It is very important that you find out what caused the shin splints in the first instance and make adjustments to ensure they do not return. Begin running again gradually and build up slowly to your pre-injury training level.

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