Shin Splints – What is that pain in my shin?

Pain in the shins is not a form of a muscle pull. This is a sign of shin splints.

Shin splints occur when you overuse your lower legs. This condition is a result of inflammation of the large bone in the lower leg, known as the tibia, along with the muscles, tendons and the thin tissue layer covering the bone. Shin splints cause pain in the lower legs, and the discomfort may last even after you stop exercising.

Shin Splints

Shin Splints Pain

The condition is most commonly seen in athletes whose legs pound a hard surface repeatedly; runners, ballet dancers, hikers, ballet dancers, and basketball players are all prone to shin splints, especially if an athlete increases mileage or activity too quickly. Having low foot arches, or flat feet, can also increase the risk of shin splints, since it can put increased stress on the lower legs.

Oftentimes, a few weeks away from weight-bearing exercise is enough to allow shin splints to clear up.  In fact, it’s rare that surgery is necessary to treat shin splints. Still, it’s important to rule out other, potentially more serious conditions, so you should consult a clinician about your pain. He or she may examine your legs, and an X-ray or bone scan may be necessary to make sure that your lower leg pain is not being caused by a stress fracture. The sports medicine specialist may also suggest you undergo physical therapy. Learn more about additional shin splints treatment options.

It’s important that once you begin training again, you start slowly, increasing your mileage bit by bit, to avoid a recurrence of shin splints. Furthermore, stretch and warm up properly before each session.

Foot Sprain

When the joints of the foot are torn or otherwise damaged due to excessive or repetitive stress placed on the foot, it can damage the foot’s cartilage and connective tissue. This injury, known as a foot sprain, also can result from a forceful twisting of the foot during sports, especially contact sports (such as football), running and gymnastics. It can also be due to long-term strain among people with low arches or flat feet.

Symptoms of a foot sprain include pain when the sprain occurs, as well as lingering pain that may not begin immediately (it may begin the next morning) and which is exacerbated by activities such as standing on one’s toes, jumping and running. The foot, toes or ankle may all be painful, and pressing on the foot may cause pain or tenderness.

If you suspect you have sprained your foot, consult a sports medicine specialist. He or she can evaluate your injury, possibly using diagnostic tools such as X-ray, computed tomography (CT), or a magnetic resonance image (MRI) to rule out other possible sources of your pain, such as a bone fracture.

If you do have a foot sprain, it’s important to take a break from all activities that cause you pain and exacerbate the injury; to make sure you do not put any pressure on the affected foot, you may need to use crutches. Additionally, taping the foot or using a brace also can be useful, as these protect the joints of the foot from further becoming damaged. Icing and using compression bandages on the foot can also reduce swelling and spur a quicker recovery.

It’s important to remember that after resting the foot until it heals, strengthening or rehabilitation exercises likely will be necessary to strengthen and stretch the foot after the period of immobilization. With the aid of these exercises, you should little by little return to your athletic regimen, adding mileage and increasing training time gradually.

To prevent the return of a sprain, people with poor arches might benefit from shoe orthotics to support the foot. Additionally, adding mileage slowly can avoid putting too much strain on the foot and can help you keep the foot healthy.

Hip Flexor Stretch

Learn a simple stretch for your hip flexor muscle to prevent injury to this area. The hip flexor muscle is used to raise your leg and is used in jumping, running, and other explosive athletic movements. Visit hip flexor injury on the pulled muscle site to learn more about treatment and prevention.