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| SHIN SPRAIN (SHIN SPLINTS) |
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| WHAT IS SHIN SPRAIN? |
| Shin pain is pain on the front of the lower leg below the knee and above the ankle. It can hurt over the shin bone (tibia) or over the muscles on either side of the shin bone. Shin pain is also called shin splints. |
| HOW DOES SHIN PAIN OCCUR? |
| Shin pain generally occurs from overuse. This problem can come from stress fractures of the tibia or fibula, or from irritation of the muscles or other tissues of the lower leg. It can occur in runners who increase their mileage or the intensity of their running, or change the surface on which they are running. When you walk or run, your foot normally flattens out a small amount when it strikes the ground. If your foot flattens out more than normal, it is called over-pronation. Over-pronation can contribute to shin pain. |
| WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? |
| The symptoms of shin pain include pain over the front lower part of your leg. You may also have pain at rest, pain during exercise, or both. |
| HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED? |
| Your physician will examine your lower leg, looking for tenderness over the front of your shin. Your physician may watch you walk or run to see if you have problems with over-pronation. You may also need x-rays or a bone scan to check for stress fractures. |
| HOW IS SHIN PAIN TREATED? |
| Treatment may include: |
| - Applying ice packs to your shin for 20-30 minutes every 3-4 hours for 2-3 days, or until the pain goes away |
| - Doing ice massage (freeze water in a styrofoam cup. Peel the top of the cup off to expose the ice, and hold on to the bottom of the cup while rubbing ice on to your leg for 5-10 minutes) |
| - Taking anti-inflammatory medication as prescribed by your physician |
| - Wearing prescribed, custom made arch supports (orthotics) to correct over pronation |
| - Rehabilitation exercises |
| While you are recovering from your injury, you will need to change your sport or activity to one that does not make your condition worse. For example, you may need to bicycle or swim instead of run. When you do begin to run again, wear good shoes and run on soft surfaces. |
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