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Shin Splints and Shin Pain

Introduction to Shin Splints

A shin splint is the most common cause of exercise-induced leg pain encountered by athletes of all levels. This condition can also affect non-athletic people who are on their feet all day. In the past the term shin splint has been used to describe all forms of pain in the lower leg. Misleading terms such as compartment syndrome and stress fractures have all been used to describe a shin splint.



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Understanding this condition

However, a shin splint is a very specific problem. It is essentially an inflammatory reaction involving the deep tissues of the lower leg and may involve tendons & muscles.

The inflammatory reaction occurs at the point where the deep tissues insert into the inside (medial) or front (anterior) aspect of the leg bone (tibia), tenderness is usually present between 3-16 cm above the foot.

When a patient is suffering from a medial shin splint, the pain and the tenderness will be present on the inner aspect of the leg. With an anterior shin splint, pain and tenderness is present on the front and outer aspect of the leg. In both cases, running and walking may be extremely painful. In severe cases, even light weight bearing may be painful.

Shin Splints Causes

Causes of Shin Splints

  • Over training.
  • Mechanical problems with the feet such as overpronation. Overpronation can be simply described as a condition which causes your arches to flatten out when you stand up. This causes your ankles to roll in towards each other and disturbs your normal walking pattern. If a foot overpronates, the structures of the leg are stretched and put under stress which increases the likelihood of that structure being injured. View insoles that correct overpronation and enable a rapid recovery from shin pain here
  • Tight calf muscles.
  • A young novice runner training for long periods on hard roads and in poor physical condition.
  • Training on hard surfaces such as concrete.
  • Improper shoes with inadequate shock absorption.
  • Excessive rotation of the hip.
Shin Splints Treatment

Treatments for Shin Splints

  • Excessive pronation of the feet can also be a major contributing factor. Overpronation leads to internal tibial rotation and increases the tractional forces upon the muscles and ligaments in the lower leg. Orthotic insoles are useful because they help prevent overpronation and provide heel cushioning to reduce impact while providing heel stability.
  • Decrease training immediately.
  • The use of crutches may be necessary to ensure there is non-weight bearing.
  • Stretching exercises may be necessary.
  • Light swimming may help to maintain fitness.
  • Do not train downhill, this can aggravate the condition.
  • In the short term, rest is required to help alleviate shin pain. Running and other strenuous activities should be avoided until the condition is minimized, but a shin support will help speed up recovery.

 

 

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Shin Pain
Review: Treat those sore aching legs

Millions of people who suffer from shin pain use sports insoles for immediate relief.
Insoles provide a unique foot support system that re-aligns the lower body. The major cause of shin pain is overpronation (rolling over of the feet) which causes excessive pressure on the shin bones. Our insoles treat the underlying cause of shin pain and prevent future occurrences of the condition.

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Customer Review


"Service was easy and safe via the website. My order arrived witthin a few days and to my surprise the insoles actually helped my shin splints condition tremendously. I had almost given up all hope of trying to find something to ease the pain until I found your website."


R James, Manchester UK





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