medically termed median tibial stress syndrome, shin splints is a accumulative stress disorderliness often associated with runners and early athletes, deoxyadenosine monophosphate well as people who routinely engage in arduous physical action. The disorder arises from repeated stress on the muscles, tendons, and bones of your lower leg that besides prevents your body from being able to heal itself .
The term “ clamber splints ” refers to the annoyance you feel on the inner function of your lower leg, where the shin cram, or tibia, connects with the muscles that help support it. The pain comes from tissue inflammation .
At Performance Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, the rehearse of Dr. David Dickerson, we see our share of shin splint cases, and we specialize in developing a customized treatment plan for professional athletes and weekend warriors alike — one that not only restores your optimum force, but besides helps you prevent future injuries .
We want you to better understand this condition and what we can do to help you, so we ’ ve put together this guide to get you in the sleep together.
The risks for developing tibia splints
As we ’ ve mentioned, shin splints develop from repetitive and excessive military unit on the muscles in the lower leg, causing them to swell and increasing the pressure against the bone. This leads to excitement and trouble .
It ’ mho besides possible to develop shin splints when you have stress fractures in the tibia bone. Allowed to rest, the body can repair these minute cracks. If you continue to work out, though, the cracks can turn into a widen bone fracture .
Most people develop shin splints when their leg muscles and tendons are tired. At high risk for the condition are people who have directly feet or high gear or rigid arches ; athletes, particularly those who participate in sports that rely on fast starts and stops ; dancers ; and military recruits participating in forced marches. At the highest risk, though, are runners who impound the pavement with each step .
Shin splint diagnosis
It ’ second crucial to diagnose shin splints accurately, since other conditions such as stress fractures, tendinitis, and chronic exertional compartment syndrome, besides give with pain in your shins .
At your consultation, Dr. Dickerson discusses your symptoms with you, takes a arrant medical history, and examines your lower leg. He may besides orderliness X-rays or a CT or MRI scan to rule out any early problem. MRIs, for example, are good at highlighting cases of tendinitis, which is treated differently than clamber splints .
Treating your shin splints
The best treatment for shin splints is childlike rest — specifically, stopping the lumber for approximately two weeks to achieve a fully convalescence. During this fourth dimension you can engage in activities that don ’ triiodothyronine involve a fortune of leg stress, such as bicycle, naiant, or using an elliptic .
other common treatments include :
- over-the-counter NSAIDs ( nonsteroid anti-inflammatories ) : reduce annoyance and inflammation
- ice : cold packs on legs for 20 minutes at a time throughout the day
- compression bandage : prevents extra swelling
- flexibility exercises : stretching your lower leg muscles makes your shins feel dear
- supportive shoes : good padding to reduce stress
- Orthotics : help oneself align and stabilize your ankle and foot, taking stress off of your lower stage
- Return responsibly to exercise : build up lento to pre-injury saturation and duration
How runners can avoid clamber splints
These tips are specially helpful for runners, but they can benefit anyone engaged in high-intensity bodily process .
- wear shoes with thoroughly arch and heel digest
- Use shock-absorbing insoles
- Avoid working out on hard or uneven surfaces
- Stretch properly before exercising
- Practice persuasiveness educate, particularly toe exercises that build calf muscles
- Strengthen all muscle groups around shin area
- Vary workouts to avoid insistent injuries
- Don ’ triiodothyronine drill through pain
If you overdo your exercise and develop severe brawn pain, stop consonant and rest. If the symptoms continue for more than a couple of days, come in to see Dr. Dickerson .
tibia splints are atrocious and crippling, but they ’ rhenium treatable. If you have shin splints, or if you ’ re an athlete concerned about developing them, schedule a inflict by calling the nearest office where our helpful team can answer your questions and book an appointment. We have offices in Toms River, Shrewsbury, and Wall Township, New Jersey .
