Shin Splints
Pathology
The term "shin splints" refers to pain along or just behind the tibia. Shin splints are also called medial tibial stress syndrome. Shin splints cause 13% of all running injuries.
4 grades of pain:
1. Pain occurring after activity
2. Pain occurring before and after activity but not affecting performance
3. Pain before, during, and after activity affecting performance
4. So severe that activity is impossible
Signs and Symptoms
Dull, aching pain in the front of the lower leg. The pain is usually located along either side of the shinbone or in the muscles.
Structures involved
Tibia, Fibula, Posterior tibialis muscle, and interosseus membrane.
MOI
Runners usually get shin splints by increasing the intensity of their runs, or if they change the surface they run on. It is also common in dancers.
Prevention
Always wear shoes with good support and padding. Warm up before working out, making sure to stretch the muscles in your legs. Stop working out as soon as you feel pain in your shins. Don't run or play on hard surfaces like concrete.
Treatment
Rest. ROM exercises. Icing the shin to reduce pain and swelling. Do it for 20-30 minutes every three to four hours for two to three days, or until the pain is gone. Physical therapy to strengthen the muscles in your shins and Arch supports for your shoes.
Taping
Place the edge of the roll of tape on the inside of your ankle, where the bone protrudes. Apply the tape from the anklebone over the foot at the top part of the ankle. Continue wrapping towards the back of the ankle at the Achilles tendon. Refrain from wrapping the tape too tightly around the Achilles tendon. Wrap the tape in a diagonal fashion upwards across the front of the leg. Tape around the leg two more times, continuing in an upward diagonal direction. Overlap each previous band of tape slightly. The tape should cross over the part of your shin that is in pain. Do not wrap your calf muscle. Cut the tape.
The term "shin splints" refers to pain along or just behind the tibia. Shin splints are also called medial tibial stress syndrome. Shin splints cause 13% of all running injuries.
4 grades of pain:
1. Pain occurring after activity
2. Pain occurring before and after activity but not affecting performance
3. Pain before, during, and after activity affecting performance
4. So severe that activity is impossible
Signs and Symptoms
Dull, aching pain in the front of the lower leg. The pain is usually located along either side of the shinbone or in the muscles.
Structures involved
Tibia, Fibula, Posterior tibialis muscle, and interosseus membrane.
MOI
Runners usually get shin splints by increasing the intensity of their runs, or if they change the surface they run on. It is also common in dancers.
Prevention
Always wear shoes with good support and padding. Warm up before working out, making sure to stretch the muscles in your legs. Stop working out as soon as you feel pain in your shins. Don't run or play on hard surfaces like concrete.
Treatment
Rest. ROM exercises. Icing the shin to reduce pain and swelling. Do it for 20-30 minutes every three to four hours for two to three days, or until the pain is gone. Physical therapy to strengthen the muscles in your shins and Arch supports for your shoes.
Taping
Place the edge of the roll of tape on the inside of your ankle, where the bone protrudes. Apply the tape from the anklebone over the foot at the top part of the ankle. Continue wrapping towards the back of the ankle at the Achilles tendon. Refrain from wrapping the tape too tightly around the Achilles tendon. Wrap the tape in a diagonal fashion upwards across the front of the leg. Tape around the leg two more times, continuing in an upward diagonal direction. Overlap each previous band of tape slightly. The tape should cross over the part of your shin that is in pain. Do not wrap your calf muscle. Cut the tape.