Shin splints - the crippling pain of running

​'Shin splints' can be very painful but often people suffer from this and "just put up" with it. There are different reasons why shin splints occur and they can affect people in all walks of life. Most often they occur in runners. 

The medical name for the shin splints is "Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS)" or "Periostitis". It is caused when too much force is placed on the tibialis posterior muscle which attaches to the tibia. Anyone who has experienced shin splints before knows that it is quite painful and can affect your training significantly. 

Shin splints can be throbbing or sharp in nature, the degree of pain can give you an indication of the severity of this condition. In severe cases the pain might be felt during the entire training and even during rest time. Generally the longer you wait for treatment, the harder and longer it will take to heal.

It is important to seek treatment from your Podiatrist straightway if you think you have shin splints as the speedy diagnosis can lead to a higher chance of a speedy recovery. The best way to treat shin splints is to find out the cause of it, which is often the way your foot functions

There are several different reasons for the appearance of shin splints: 

• Not enough muscle strength and limited flexibility
• Training intensity too high and too soon
• Incorrect running technique and misaligned biomechanics e.g. 'feet rolling in'
• Hard and uneven running surfaces
• Wrong type of shoes

Treatment involves a mixture of short term and long term options, and these will work together to get you back on your feet sooner:

• Icing the affected area
• Anti-inflammatory Medication
• Rest from exacerbating activities i.e. stop running
• Strengthen the muscles that might not be strong enough
• Avoid running on hard surfaces
• Invest in the correct type of shoe (we can help you with this too) 
• Customised Foot Orthotics - these are generally key to fasten the recovery and work well as a preventative measure

We have had excellent success in managing and treating 'shin splints' for hundreds of people. 

If you suffer from 'shin splints' phone us now for a biomechanical assessment and we can provide you with all the information you need in one consult!