Sooner or later almost all runners experience pain in the calf or shin. There are several types of overuse injuries that may develop in this region as a result of the repeated pounding from running. Shin splints, stress fractures, and chronic compartment syndrome have a common mechanism of development. Understanding the circumstances that lead to these injuries is the key to preventing them.
The most common types of shin injuries include:
Medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) – Is the most common cause of leg pain in athletes. MTSS is an overuse injury which causes pain on the inner aspect of the shins. Pain usually runs along the length of the shin and may be present in one or both legs.
Tibial stress fracture (TSF) – Pain is usually more point-specific and located directly over the bone in the shin. Pain is usually relieved when not bearing weight. Stress fractures that are relatively new (2-3 weeks) will most likely not show up on an x-ray, and won’t until the bone starts to heal itself. If a stress fracture is diagnosed, it may be recommended to wear a boot or not bear weight for a period of time.
Anterior tibialis tendonitis – Pain is located along the outer border of the lower leg bone, where the anterior tibialis muscle is located. This muscle helps turn your foot inward and upward. Repetitive motion and increased strain on the muscle can cause inflammation in the tendon. Pain begins while running and may specifically be noticed after running hills or inclines.
Facts Related to Shin Splints:
- MTSS accounts for nearly 60% of all overuse injuries of the leg
- About 10-20% of runners will experience at least one bout of shin splints during their career
- TSFs account for 6-14% of running-related injuries
- TSFs seem to be more prevalent in females
Possible Causes
There are numerous theories about the origin of shin splints, but the exact mechanism of injury is frequently unknown. Possible causes of shin splints include:
- Faulty biomechanics while running/jumping
- Anatomical abnormalities, e.g., flattened or high arches or position of knees
- Muscle weakness, e.g. quads or gluteal muscles
- Decreased flexibility, especially in the calf muscles
- Low bone mineral density
- Hormonal imbalances
- Type of surface on which activity is performed, e.g. hard surfaces like concrete sidewalks or roads
- Quality and condition of footwear, e.g. poor quality or worn out running shoes
- Training technique, e.g. too aggressive progression of training frequency and pace
A serious mistake is to try to “run through the pain” if it is a shin pain. This type of pain usually means there is injury to the bone and/or surrounding tissue. Forcing it more may worsen the injury and make the pain more intense and longer lasting.
Treatment for Shin Splints
The only effective way to recover from shin splints is to correct the underlying cause of the pain. Shin splints are often brought about by improper biomechanics of the foot and knee or misalignment of the ankle, hip or spine. A chiropractic evaluation can assess biomechanical discrepancies of the spine, pelvis and ankles that may be contributing to the condition. Misalignment of the body can produce undue stress on the anterior compartment of the lower leg, causing shin splints to occur.
As a Chiropractor in Augusta GA experienced in treating shin splints and athletes with related injuries, you can contact us for a complimentary consultation to find our if our customized treatments are right for your specific condition.
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The Georgia Clinic of Chiropractic Blog is written by Dr. Mark Huntsman.
Augusta GA Chiropractor Georgia Clinic of Chiropractic provides customized chiropractic care to the Augusta GA, Martinez GA, and Evans GA communities. Visit our main website at www.georgia-clinic.com for customized chiropractic in Augusta GA.
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