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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    What are the best ways to treat shin splints?

    Related Topic
    Sports Injuries & Prevention
    I just began running competitively and have been experience tremendous pain in my shins. Do I run through the pain or must I stop?
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  • 1

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    Dr Allison Van Ommen

    Osteopath

    Alli grew up in Hobart, Tasmania before completing a 5 year Osteopathic degree at RMIT. After graduating Alli moved to Greece to play in the … View Profile

    Hi, 

    Shin splints can get a bit tricky in terms of treatment and the longer it is left the more treatment you may need to seek in my experience.

    First of all shin splints usually arises due to tightness in the muscle compartment at the front of the shin as a result of imbalance between forces of the back, front and side muscle compartments of the lower leg.  This also can be contributed to from uneven weight forces through the leg due to pelvic imbalances and tightness in the fascia underneath the foot.

    Are you experiencing shin splints on both sides, just one or is one worse than the other?

    There are a few things you can do to help the shin splints yourself.  Icing is always good when it is aggravated.  Also what i have found that helps is releasing off the tension in the bottom and tops of your feet.  You can do this yourself using one of those spiky massage balls.

    Seek treatment from a professional sooner rather than later as it is easier to treat these issue's early on.  Massage, Osteopathic treatment, physiotherapy and dry needling are options you may wish to consider.

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    Agree

    Stewart Hayes

    Podiatrist (General)

    Stewart Hayes has experience as a podiatrist specialising in the area of “Sports Podiatry” since 1994 (the specialty dealing with biomechanical, sporting & overuse complaints … View Profile

    Hi,

    Firstly, you must diagnose what the shin splints are.  “Shin splints” is a general term for pain in the shins, but should never be used as a specific diagnosis as it could actually be tibial stress fractures, tibialis posterior tendonitis, compartment syndrome, tibial periostitis, etc, etc.

    Basically, get a true diagnosis of what your shin pain is and then seek the appropriate treatment option.

    Ta

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    Dr Ryan Hislop

    Chiropractor

    Ryan Hislop is the Clinical Director at the Orange Chiropractic Health and Wellness Centre. As an experienced and evidence-based diagnostician, Ryan works largely by medical … View Profile

    I would further back up Stewart in that it is best to seek a professionals opinion on the pain you are experiencing. In light of your recent increase in physical activity there may be more at play.

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  • Dr Kate Foord

    Osteopath

    Spring is an osteopathic clinic and we treat people through all stages of life including children, teenagers with study strains, athletes, new mums, tradesmen, desk … View Profile

    Once you have established the diagnosis of shin splints you need to pinpoint the cause. As others have mentioned the cause may be due to excessive muscular strain in the lower limb compartments, altered foot/gait biomechanics, pelvic imbalances, poor footwear etc…

    I would recommend that you seek treatment for your shin splints. Osteopathically we can release muscular tension, correct pelvic imbalances and altered foot/gait mechanics. To aid with symptomatic relief ice massage is very effective. Other management methods may include arch support in the form of an orthosis or tape, change of footwear or anti-inflammatory medication.

    At Spring Osteo Clinic we have a great deal of experience treating and managing shin splints. I recommend that you seek treatment soon to get you back running at 100%

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  • Shalin Patel

    Physiotherapist

    After completing my Bachelor of Physiotherapy in 2006, I worked for a year prior to commencing my 2 years post graduate studies. I graduated with … View Profile

    Shin Splints is an umbrella tern used to describe pain in the lower leg. First and foremost you must rule out tibia shaft stress fracture or stress reaction. This is usually unilateral or one sided. It can be caused by increasing your training frequency and intensity over a short period of time. Your health professional should be able to rule this out by requesting appropriate investigations.

    Once stress fracture or reaction is ruled out, you should look at various biomechanical aspects of lower limb and foot. Muscle length, gait analysis and various special tests will help identify underlying contributing factors.

    Treatment will vary based on clinical findings but could include stretching and strengthening exercises, orthotics to address foot control issues and maybe some local therapy as well.

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    Dr Andrew Lim

    Chiropractor

    Andrew has a Masters in Chiropractic and his interest in Sports Chiropractic has led him to treat many athletes from junior to elite levels in … View Profile

    Any pain that pulls you up during exercise is something to seek advice for. If this is left untreated for too long, it can cause a compartment syndrome, where the nerve running throught the lower leg is compressed so you lose feeling, and control of your leg. Get some professional advice for this one.

    Shin splints is a general term for pain in the lower leg, normally the front/anterior, inside/medial and occasionally outside/lateral compartment of the lower leg.
    More often than not, they are caused by repetitive over use of the lower leg muslce due to sudden changes in;
    - exercise type, frequency, volume and/or intensity
    - equipment i.e. running shoes
    - surfaces and/or
    - running technique

    Your health care provider should be able to identify and assess any causitive factors that may be contributing to your pain. And so, an appropriate treatment plan implemented.
    Typically you need to stop all aggravating activities and find something else you can continue with, without getting the pain i.e. swimming, cycling, resistance training etc. Make sure your exercise program involves some form of stretching or self massage/foam roller-ing of all the affected tissues contributing to your problem.
    Hope this helps!

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