Shin Splits: Causes, Symptoms, Risk Factors, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention

The term "shin splints" refers to pain along the tibia, the large bone at the front of your lower leg. Shin splints are common among runners, dancers, and new military people.

Athletes who have recently changed their training routines or increased their intensity are often susceptible to developing shin splints, which are medically referred to as medial tibial stress syndrome. The increased activity causes overstretching of the bones, muscles, and tendons.

Most cases of shin splints can be treated with ice, rest, and other self-care methods. By altering your exercise routine and using the proper footwear, you can lower your chance of getting shin splints again.

Causes Of Shin Splints

The underlying cause of shin splints is a repetitive strain on the shinbone and the connective tissues that attach your muscles to the bone.

Symptoms Of Shin Splints

If you have shin splints, you may have pain, soreness, or slight swelling in your lower leg as well as discomfort along the inside of your shinbone. If you quit exercising, your pain might at first go away. However, the pain can eventually become unbearable and might even turn into a stress reaction or stress fracture.

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Risk Factors Of Shin Splints

Should you: 

Experience with shin splints

• You are a runner, especially if you are just getting started.
• You increase your training duration, frequency, or intensity suddenly.
• You can run on uneven ground like hills or hard surfaces like concrete.
• You're training to be in the military.
• Either your arches are too flat or too high.

Diagnosis Of Shin Splints

Shin splints are usually diagnosed by a physical examination together with a review of your medical history. Now and then, an X-ray or other imaging test might help rule out other possible causes of your symptoms, such as a stress fracture.

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Treatment Of Shin Splints

Simple self-care methods can typically be used to cure shin splints:

• Relax: Avoid exercises that cause you to swell, pain, or feel unpleasant, but don't give up on exercising completely. While you're healing, try low-impact sports like cycling, swimming, or water running.
• Ice: Ice the damaged shin four to eight times a day for 15 to 20 minutes at a time for a few days. To protect your skin, wrap the ice packs around it with a small piece of cloth.
• Apply a nonprescription analgesic: Try ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, or acetaminophen to ease pain. When the pain subsides, gradually resume your normal activities.

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Prevention Of Shin Splints

The shin splints can be prevented by some of the following methods::

• Identify the way you move: You can identify movement patterns that might be contributing to the development of your shin splints by having a full video analysis of your running form. Frequently, making even a tiny change to your running regimen might help lower your risk.
• Avoid going overboard: Excessive jogging or prolonged or intense engagement in other high-impact exercises might cause overwork in the shins.
• Choose the proper shoes: Approximately every 350 to 500 miles (560 to 800 kilometers), replace your running shoes.
• Consider the arch supports: Arch supports can help prevent the pain of shin splints if you have flat arches.
• Use insoles that absorb shock: They might reduce the pain and prevent the shin splints from coming again.
• Reduce the impact: Cross-training exercises like walking, cycling, or swimming can help ease the strain on your shins. Always start new endeavors with caution. Increase the duration and intensity gradually.
• Strength training should be part of your fitness regimen: It could be beneficial to begin with workouts.

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