07/11/2025
Shin splints 🦵
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲?
- An overuse injury where the muscles, tendons and tissues around your shin bone (tibia) become irritated and inflamed.
- Often felt as pain on the inner lower leg that worsens with activity. The shin can become tender to the touch and may produce some mild swelling.
- If done repetitively and not allowed time to heal, this can develop into a bone stress fracture.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭?
- Repeated stress to the shin bones, caused by the pulling of the lower leg muscles. This pulling can occur on repetitive movements like running or jumping, but often only lead to pain when the exercise is more than you would usually do.
- E.g. starting new exercises, a new routine, or increasing the difficulty of the activity too quickly.
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩?
- Start new exercises slowly and increase your activity intensity over time (e.g. increase by 10% each week).
- Stretch muscles before exercising to warm them up.
- Avoid hard, hilly or uneven surfaces when running.
- If you’ve got shin splints already: take a break from sports for a few weeks to allow your shins to heal, apply ice to the area to reduce swelling, and try some gentle leg stretches.
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩?
- Improve alignment - reduces additional stress on joints.
- Release muscles - stretching, massage, improved blood flow all contribute to muscle healing.
- Advise and exercise recommendation to support the feet, ankles, knees and hips.