Do your shins throb and ache after your daily run or just sprinting to catch the bus? It could be shin splints. You might hear a doctor call it medial tibial stress syndrome. The cause is stress on your shinbone and the connective tissues that attach muscles to your bones. They get inflamed and painful. This common problem can result from: If you’re active, you could get them if you make sudden changes like more intense, more frequent, or longer workouts. They often heal on their own. If you see a doctor, expect to get a
thorough physical exam. They may want to watch you run to look for problems. They might also take X-rays or bone scans to look for fractures. You’ll know they’re fully healed when: There's no way to say exactly when your shin splints will go away. It depends on what caused them. People also heal at different rates; 3 to 6 months isn’t unusual. The most important thing is that you don’t rush back into your sport. If you start to work out before your shin heals, you may hurt yourself permanently. Take up a new no-impact activity that won't aggravate your shin splints while they heal. If you’re a runner, try swimming or an aggressive interval bike program. If your shin splints don’t get better, or if they come back, your doctor may suggest you see a physical therapist. They can treat issues in your legs or the way you move that could cause the problem. A therapist can also help ease the pain and guide your return to sport. They’ll also make sure you don’t have a stress fracture -- tiny cracks in your tibia.
What are shin splints?Shin splints refer to pain and tenderness along or just behind the large bone in the lower leg (the tibia). What causes shin splints?Shin splints most often happen after hard exercise, sports, or repetitive activity. This repetitive action can lead to inflammation of the muscles, tendons, and thin layer of tissue covering the shin bones, causing pain. What are the symptoms of shin splints?These are the most common symptoms of shin splints:
The symptoms of shin splints may look like other conditions or medical problems. Always talk with your healthcare provider for a diagnosis. How are shin splints diagnosed?Your healthcare provider can most often diagnose shin splints by reviewing your medical history and doing a physical exam. X-rays are often needed. How are shin splints treated?Your healthcare provider will figure out the best treatment based on:
The best course of treatment for shin splints is to stop any activity that's causing the pain until the injury is healed. Other treatment may include:
Can shin splints be prevented?You may be able to prevent shin splints by wearing good fitting athletic shoes. Also, gradually increase the intensity, duration, and frequency of a new exercise routine. It may also help to switch between high impact activities and low impact activities such as swimming or cycling. Why do my shins hurt when I go for a walk?Sore shins are caused by excessively tight and weak anterior tibialis muscles of the front of the shin. If these muscles are tight and weak they will become strained every time you go for a brisk walk.
Should I stop walking if my shins hurt?Take a break from your walking or running workout to give your shins time to heal. You can remain active by exercising with non-weight-bearing exercise, like swimming or biking, if it doesn't cause pain. Icing the shins can decrease pain.
When should I worry about shin pain?In many cases, a person with shin pain will not need to see a doctor. However, a person should seek immediate medical help if there is severe pain, swelling, and bruising, if the shin looks an unusual shape, or the person has heard a snapping sound. These could be signs of a fracture.
What does it mean when your shins are hurting?Shin splints occur when the muscles and bones in the lower part of the leg pull and tug at their insertion on the shin bone (the tibia) and it becomes inflamed (irritated and swollen) and painful. Athletes often have shin pain because they put repeated stress on the shin bone, muscles and connective tissues.
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