Shin Splints can slowly creep up on you. It might initially feel like a little tightness and then gradually progress to a full blown injury. Once established, shin splints can become a chronic injury that is difficult to manage and can interfere with your daily life, especially if you are an active person.
What Are Shin Splints
Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome, commonly known as Shin Splints, occurs when the muscles, tendons and bone tissue become inflamed as a result of excessive tension on the shin bone. Pain is usually felt along the inside of the lower shin, but can also be felt in the front or even just above the ankle. It is usually worse at the start of the activity and afterwards. Runners, Basketball and Soccer players are susceptible to shin splints due to the amount of running and jumping involved. Runners are especially at risk as a result of poor training habits and increasing their mileage too quickly.
What Causes Shin Splints
Shin Splints can have a variety of causes. Most commonly it is a result of excessive stress to the area from a sudden increase in training or poor biomechanics and sometimes a combination of both.
How To Treat Shin Splints
The first step to treating shin splints is to stop or reduce the activity which causes pain and irritates the injury. Regular application of ice can also help reduce inflammation and pain. A rehab specialist such as a Physiotherapist or Chiropractor can get the inflammation under control and aid your body in the healing process. They can also assess any problems related to your biomechanics or muscular imbalances. Finally, a Kinesiologist or Athletic Therapist can use exercises to build strength and correct any issues with biomechanics or muscle imbalances so that the injury does not become chronic or recurring.
At COAST, our team of rehabilitation experts can help you build a strong and resilient body so that injuries like shin splints don’t prevent you from leading an active and healthy life!