SHIN SPLINTS

Shin pain is a common complaint amongst athletes, particularly runners.  This pain is most commonly seen at the front or inside of the shin bone.

Shin pain can occur for a number of reasons:

• Bone stress can occur when the tibia is under repetitive stress from muscle attachments resulting in a bony contusion or possible stress fracture.
• Muscles can be "over worked" causing swelling and pain.
• Bony lining is the point where the muscle inserts into the shin bone. These muscular insertions can become inflamed and painful.

All of the above can be the result of muscle imbalance, direct injury/trauma or sudden onset of physical activity or overuse.

At Hills Podiatry Centre  we may recommend a number of treatments depending upon the cause, stage, and severity of your injury. Some possible treatments include:

• Rest plus ice or heat
• Footwear assessment and advice
• Custom foot orthotics to decrease incorrect forces exerted on the tibia
• Stretching and strengthening exercises
• Diagnostic imaging if a stress fracture is suspected.