Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome

Shin Splints

Definition:

MTSS refers to pain along the tibia, shin splints are common in runners, dancers and military recruits.

Symptoms:

Tenderness, soreness or pain along the inner side of your shinbone and mild swelling in your lower leg. Pain starts on the inside of the lower leg above the ankle, the pain gets worse when you stand on your toes or rolling the ankle inwards. The pain can then stop as you stop exercising but it can be continuous and may progress to a stress fracture if not treated properly.

Causes:

Shin splints are caused by repetitive overuse high impact activity that puts stress on the muscles at your shin and can lead to inflammation and tenderness on the shin muscles and tendons.

Risk factors:

New runners, increasing intensity, duration or frequency of exercise, running on uneven surfaces or hills and having flat feet or high arches.

Prevention of shin splints:

Analyse your movement, this can be done by recording your running and analysing it to see if your knees ankles or hips are moving abnormally. Avoid overdoing, too much running or high impact can overload the muscles at the shin and cause pain and aggravation. Consider arch supports, they can help prevent the pain of shin splints especially if you have flat arches. Add strength training to your programme to strengthen and stabilize your legs ankles hips and core. Get orthotics to help correct any malformities you may have which can reduce the strain on your muscles and reduce the pain of your shin splints.

Treatment:

At home remedies include icing, taking painkillers and stretching and strengthening. If these remedies do not work it is advised that you go to see your physiotherapist where you can get a rehab plan tailored for you and the physio can provide different treatment modalities which can relieve the pain. It is also a good idea to get custom orthotics as your feet are different to others and they will provide extra support to reduce the impact on your muscles and reduce the pain.