Shin Splints!

Medial tibial stress syndrome is an overuse condition of the muscles in the front of your shin, and is exacerbated with running and jumping. The underlying pathophysiologic process resulting in shin splints is related to unrepaired microdamage accumulation in the cortical bone of the distal tibia, or another way, micro fractures in the outside of the leg bone. Specifically it is associated with the tendinous attachments of the soleus, flexor digitorum longus, and posterior tibialis muscles on the lateral or outside border of the tibia. Symptoms include but are not limited to

1) Presence of exercise-induced pain along the lower two-thirds of the medial tibial border

2) Presence of pain provoked during or after physical activity, which reduces with relative rest

3) Burning pain over the posterior compartment and/or numbness/tingling in the foot

The good news is that physical therapy can help. Treatment focus is to correct functional, gait, and biomechanical overload factors (1), and then progress to proper stretching and strengthening program to return to activities. Complete Physical Therapy can help with an evaluation and custom treatment program.

1) Lohrer H, Malliaropoulos N, Korakakis V, Padhiar N. Exercise-induced leg pain in athletes: diagnostic, assessment, and management strategies. Phys Sportsmed. 2019 Feb;47(1):47-59. doi: 10.1080/00913847.2018.1537861. Epub 2018 Nov 5. PMID: 30345867.