Shin Splints aka. Tibial Stress Syndrome
Shin splints is a common overuse sports injury that we see in the clinic. It is caused by overusing the shin muscles where they attach to the bone. It is common to suffer from shin splints bilaterally (on both sides).
Shin splints is characterised by pain either on the inside (posterior shin splints) or the front (anterior shin splints) of the shin bone (tibia), usually in the bottom two thirds of the bone. Pain primarily comes on with increased loading and impact e.g. with running, jumping, landing etc.
- Muscle - tension, ‘knots’ and tenderness through tibialis posterior and tibialis anterior
- Tenoperiosteum - inflammation of the area where the muscle’s tendon attaches to the bone
- Bone - in more severe cases, stress fractures of the tibia can occur
In initial stages of the injury, pain usually comes on at the beginning of the activity or workout, disappears during and reappears during the cool down phase. When the injury worsens, the pain can remain throughout exercise and be present for hours > days afterwards.
- Runners
- Dancers
- Football players
- Hockey players
- Plus any other running sports
- Training errors
- Increasing load too quickly
- Running on a hard surface
- Running on an uneven surface
- Poor footwear
- Biomechanics (foot arch abnormalities, increased foot pronation)
- Poor muscular strength/control (especially around the foot, calf and hip)
Visit your physiotherapist! Physiotherapy treatment for this issue can include:
- Assessment to identify contributing factors
- Gatiscan
- Orthotic prescription
- Taping
- Exercise rehab
- Dry needling
- Massage
- Advice around load management
- Working towards functional goals
Here's one of our clients Angus who had shin splints last year.
He plays AFL and touch football and would have pain throughout most sessions/games. His treatment involved exercises, dry needling and foot taping to improve his arch height.
If you believe you are experiencing shin splints, give us a call on 6281 2499 or head to the online booking function on our website to book an appointment with one of our physios.
Author: Jess Garlick, Physiotherapist (BHSc, M. Physiotherapy Practice)