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Common Foot
Conditions
Shin
Splints
What are shin
splints?
Shin splints are
injuries to the front of the outer leg. While the exact
injury is not known, shin splints seem to result from
inflammation from injury to the tendon (posterior
peroneal tendon) and adjacent tissues in the front of
the outer leg.
Shin splints represent
one member of a group of injuries called "overuse
injuries." Shin splints occur most commonly in runners
or aggressive walkers.
What are the
symptoms of shin splints?
Shin splints cause pain
in the front of the outer leg below the knee. The pain
of shin splints is characteristically located on the
outer edge of the mid region of the leg next to the
shin bone (tibia). An area of discomfort measuring 4-6
inches (10-15 cm) in length is frequently present. Pain
is often noted at the early portion of the workout,
then lessens only to reappear near the end of the
training session. Shin splint discomfort is often
described as dull at first. However, with continuing
trauma, the pain can become so extreme as to cause the
athlete to stop workouts altogether.
What causes shin
splints?
A primary culprit
causing shin splints is a sudden increase in distance
or intensity of a workout schedule. This increase in
muscle work can be associated with inflammation of the
lower leg muscles, those muscles used in lifting the
foot (the motion during which the foot pivots toward
the tibia). Such a situation can be aggravated by a
tendency to pronate the foot (roll it excessively
inward onto the arch).
Similarly, a tight
Achilles tendon or weak ankle muscles are also often
implicated in the development of shin splints.
How is the are shin
splints diagnosed?
The diagnosis of shin
splints is usually made during examination. It depends
upon a careful review of the patient's history and a
focused physical exam (an exam focused on the shins and
legs).
Specialized (and
costly) tests (e.g., bone scans) are generally only
necessary if the diagnosis is unclear. Radiology tests,
such as x-rays, bone scan or MRI scan, in this setting
can be helpful to detect stress fracture of the tibia
bone.
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