Posted on December 8, 2008 in Latest News
Shin splints refers to the pain in the lower leg (below the knee). The pain is present in the middle portion of the lower leg. Shin splints is usually caused due to overtraining in athletic activities, improper gait or shoes.
Shin splints is termed medically as medial tibial stress syndrome. Tibia is the large bone in your lower leg. Tibia is also known as the shinbone. Shin splints develop due to the overload of the bone and connective tissues in the lower leg.
Symptoms of Shin Splints:
Shin splints causes pain of the lower leg. This pain is usually present below the knee, concentrated on the outer edges. Mild swelling can also be present.
Causes of Shin Splints:
Shin splints can be caused due to the following reasons:
- Training too hard in activities such as running, jogging, playing tennis or basketball etc
- Improper footwear
- Running or jogging with an incorrect posture
- Flat feet or high arched feet
- Running on hard surfaces, uneven surfaces
Initially, the pain due to shin splints goes away when training is continued. However, slowly the pain becomes so severe that it becomes tough to run or jog
Shin Splints Treatment:
Your doctor can diagnose shin splints with a physical exam. However, he may also ask you to get imaging tests such as X-ray to rule out fractures. Following are the treatments for shin splints:
- Taking rest or taking up low-impact activities such as walking
- Icing the affected area for 15 minutes, 4 times a day will reduce the pain
- Proper shoes based on your foot type and sport type can be recommended by your doctor
- Over-the-counter medicines such as ibuprofen, naproxen can be used to relieve pain
- To reduce swelling, you can use Ace bandage and wrap it around the affected area
- Arch supports can be used to relive the pain
Shin Splints Exercises:
The following are some of the shin splints exercises:
- You can start low-impact activities, which do not put much stress on the bone, such as walking, swimming, cycling and water running
- Sit with your knees straight. Now pull your foot gently towards your body and release it
- To prevent shin splints, you can try toe raise exercises. Raise your heels while resting on your toes. Now, lower your heels slowly. Leg presses can also help you to prevent shin splints
One should not start activities such as running or jogging until the pain goes away. Sometimes shin splints can be an indication of other problems such as stress fracture, tendonitis or compartment syndrome. Hence, consulting a doctor is recommended in such cases. However, in most cases shin splints are caused due to overtraining and go away after resting for sometime
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