Shin Splints

Do you feel pain or tenderness along the front or inside of your shin when running or walking? You could be dealing with shin splints – a common overuse injury especially in runners, dancers, field sport athletes and those involved in high impact sports.

Shin splints, medically known as medial tibial stress syndrome, usually happens when the tissues around the shin bone become irritated from overloading the lower leg muscles and tendons. It can be caused by sudden increase in training distance, speed or intensity, running on certain surfaces, poor or worn-out footwear, muscle imbalances and/or altered foot biomechanics.

Physiotherapy plays an important role in the management and treatment of shin splints.

At Dalton Physiotherapy we will assess your movements, footwear, training loads, and biomechanics to identify the cause of your shin pain. With the help and advice from your physiotherapist there are many treatment options available, which may include:

• Activity modification to allow symptoms to settle
• Manual therapy to improve mobility and relieve muscle tension
• Targeted stretching and strengthening to improve function of the calf and surrounds muscles
• Footwear and biomechanic assessment and advice if poor mechanics are contributing to the problem
• Structured return to running /sport plan to help you build up gradually and prevent reoccurrence

Shin splints can be a painful setback for runners and athletes, but with the right rehab and load management, you can get back to training pain-free and reduce the risk of shin splints reoccurring. To book an appointment to see a physiotherapist about your shin pain book online at www.daltonphysio.ie or call us on 01-9081101 and we’d be happy to help.