What Are Shin Splints?

Shin splints are irritation to the muscles, tendons and bone of your lower leg (tibia). These often cause pain and impact on walking or running.

What Causes Shin Splints ?

The pain often occurs as the result of muscles and tendons of your lower leg becoming tight from overuse and resulting in inflammation and irritation.
Factors that can contribute to shin splints:

1. 1. Having Flat feet
   2. Having a shorter leg
   3. Having a postural imbalance (twisted pelvis)
   4. Wearing unsuitable footwear
   5. Starting running or suddenly increasing running
   6. Not stretching after exercise.

Symptoms of Shin Splints 

The most common symptom of shin splints is pain in the lower leg along the border of the shin bone ( tibia). 

Shin splint pain may:

• Dull and throbbing or sharp.
• Occur both during and after exercise
• Cause pain by touching the skin bone (tibia)

Treatment of Shin Splints

1.Rest. Do not try and push beyond the pain as this may lead to serious complications like anterior compartment syndrome.
2.NSAID’s. Drugs like ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen reduce pain and swelling.
3.Ice. Use cold packs covered with a thin tea towel for 10 minutes on then take off for 10 minutes, followed by another 10 minutes on. Repeat several times a day.

Physical Treatment: 

1. Massage the lower leg (especially tibialis anterior muscle).
   Flexibility exercises. Stretching your lower leg muscles may make your shins feel better.
2. Dry Needling: Using fine acupuncture type needles into the tight muscle bands of the lower leg. In clinical practice the author has found this to be the most effective treatment.
3. Chiropractic correction of any pelvis or lower leg or ankle bone misalignment

Prevention Of Shin Splints

1. Chiropractic correction of any postural imbalances including differences in leg lengths and or pelvic misalignments.
2. Address flat feet with arch supports or orthotics
3. .Wear the correct supportive shoes. Wearing shoes with good cushioning during daily activities will help reduce stress in your shins.
4. Warm up and stretch thoroughly before you exercise. Warm down and stretch after exercise. Increase training slowly. If you start to feel the same pain, stop exercising, do not try and push through the pain.

Our team here at Children’s Sunshine Chiropractic are very experienced and confident in dealing with shin splints. Many of our chiropractors are trained in both Chiropractic and dry needling.

If you would like to discuss your case of Shin Splints further please contact our office so we may assist you.