What Causes Shin Splints

Shin splints are a pain in the shin and lower leg that occur when muscles in that area are overworked. It isn’t just a “sore” muscle. It is sharp pain that could occur during and after physical activities (depending on the severity). The pain associated with shin splints results from excessive amounts of force on the tissues attaching the shin bone to the muscles surrounding it. The excessive force causes the muscles to swell and increases the pressure against the bone, leading to pain and inflammation. New fitness programs can cause shin splints if you do not ease into them and do too much too soon because your muscles cannot adjust to the quick changes. Exercising with shoes that do not fit the arch of your foot can also cause shin splints. Overpronation or ''flat feet" is another common cause; however, this is something you are born with. I …show more content…
An example of a severe shin splint that would require surgery is if a muscle tears away from your shin bone. After visiting the doctor he told me I was doing everything I could to help it heal: he said icing it, taking pain killers, and resting helped reduce the inflammation. However, he said since I had overpronated feet I would battle shin splints my whole life unless I bought shoe inserts to lessen the impact, and create an arch in my foot. Some other treatments to try if you’ve simply just overworked the muscle is by stretching. If you have medial shin splints you should stretch your Achilles. If your shin splints are anterior, then you should stretch your calves. If you choose to continue running and working those muscles, then wrap your leg before you go out. Use either tape or an Ace bandage, starting just above the ankle and continuing to just below the knee. If you frequently run on roads with an obvious camber, run out and back on the same side of the road. Likewise, when running on a track, switch directions, so you aren’t being to repetitive and overworking the same