Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Shin splints (called medial tibial stress syndrome) is a common condition among athletes that causes sharp or dull pain over the front of the shin bone (called the tibia) that often limits a person’s ability to walk or run.
The diagnosis of shin splints is made through a medical history and physical examination.Imaging tests may be ordered to confirm the diagnosis or rule out alternative diagnoses like a stress fracture of the shin bone.
This article describes the symptoms and causes of shin splints. It also explains how shin splints are diagnosed and what can be done to manage and prevent the condition.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
Repetitive Strain Injury: Everything You Need to Know
What Causes Shin Splints?
Classic repetitive activities that trigger shin splints include:
Increasing the intensity and duration of your physical activity can also lead to shin splints.
How Do Shin Splints Feel?
The primary symptom of shin splints is pain along the border of the tibia bone (often described as sharp, dull, or throbbing).The pain may occur in one or both legs. This pain is usually felt during and after physical activity. Mild swelling may also be present, and the shin is often sore to touch.
How Are Shin Splints Diagnosed?
If you have shin pain, your healthcare provider will perform a medical history and physical exam.In some instances, your healthcare provider may order one or more diagnostic tests.
Medical History and Physical Examination
In addition to reviewing your symptoms, especially the specifics regarding your pain (e.g., location, intensity, and what makes it better or worse), a physical examination that focuses on muscle palpation, range of motion, and strength can help your healthcare provider make a diagnosis of shin splints.
Diagnostic Tests
Diagnostic tests may be ordered to rule out alternative diagnoses. These tests may include:
What can be mistaken for shin splints?Other conditions that can cause shin pain include:Astress facturein the tibiaTendonitisChronic exertional compartment syndrome
What can be mistaken for shin splints?
Other conditions that can cause shin pain include:Astress facturein the tibiaTendonitisChronic exertional compartment syndrome
Other conditions that can cause shin pain include:
How Do You Heal Shin Splints?
Thetreatment of shin splintsinvolves rest (often several weeks of taking a break from the inciting activity that caused the pain), as well as these basic therapies:
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy may also be part of your treatment plan for shin splints.
The goals of physical therapy are to manage the inflammatory process in your anterior tibialis muscle in the front of your shin and to work to change the biomechanical faults that may be causing your shin splints.
These goals can be accomplished through many different strategies, including:
How Long Will My Shin Splints Last?While there is no definitive answer to this question, generally speaking, you can expect to deal with your shin splints for afew weeks.Recovery may be longer if you do not adequately rest, or shorter, if your shin splints are mild and respond promptly to treatment.
How Long Will My Shin Splints Last?
While there is no definitive answer to this question, generally speaking, you can expect to deal with your shin splints for afew weeks.Recovery may be longer if you do not adequately rest, or shorter, if your shin splints are mild and respond promptly to treatment.
How Do You Prevent Shin Splints?
There are several things you can do to stop shin splints from occurring, such as:
Summary
However, there may be other causes of lower leg pain, so be sure to see your healthcare provider. Once a proper diagnosis is made for your condition, the correct treatment can be started. Treatment generally involves rest, activity modification, and therapies to ease pain and swelling.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.OrthoInfo.Shin splints.Winters M.The diagnosis and management of medial tibial stress syndrome : An evidence update. Diagnostik und Therapie des Schienbeinkantensyndroms : Update zur Studienlage.Unfallchirurg. 2020;123(Suppl 1):15‐19. doi:10.1007/s00113-019-0667-zMedlinePlus.Shin-splints - self-care.Franklyn M, Oakes B.Aetiology and mechanisms of injury in medial tibial stress syndrome: Current and future developments.World J Orthop. 2015;6(8):577‐589. Published 2015 Sep 18. doi:10.5312/wjo.v6.i8.577Bonasia DE, Rosso F, Cottino U, Rossi R.Exercise-induced leg pain.Asia Pac J Sports Med Arthrosc Rehabil Technol. 2015;2(3):73‐84. Published 2015 May 2. doi:10.1016/j.asmart.2015.03.003Arnold MJ, Moody AL.Common Running Injuries: Evaluation and Management.Am Fam Physician; 2018;97(8):510-516.Rankin A.An Evidence-Based Case Study of Unilateral Shin Splints: Do Red Flags Function in Paediatric Osteosarcoma?Physiother Can. 2015 Fall;67(4):365-68. doi: 10.3138/ptc.2014-79NHS.Shin splints.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.OrthoInfo.Shin splints.Winters M.The diagnosis and management of medial tibial stress syndrome : An evidence update. Diagnostik und Therapie des Schienbeinkantensyndroms : Update zur Studienlage.Unfallchirurg. 2020;123(Suppl 1):15‐19. doi:10.1007/s00113-019-0667-zMedlinePlus.Shin-splints - self-care.Franklyn M, Oakes B.Aetiology and mechanisms of injury in medial tibial stress syndrome: Current and future developments.World J Orthop. 2015;6(8):577‐589. Published 2015 Sep 18. doi:10.5312/wjo.v6.i8.577Bonasia DE, Rosso F, Cottino U, Rossi R.Exercise-induced leg pain.Asia Pac J Sports Med Arthrosc Rehabil Technol. 2015;2(3):73‐84. Published 2015 May 2. doi:10.1016/j.asmart.2015.03.003Arnold MJ, Moody AL.Common Running Injuries: Evaluation and Management.Am Fam Physician; 2018;97(8):510-516.Rankin A.An Evidence-Based Case Study of Unilateral Shin Splints: Do Red Flags Function in Paediatric Osteosarcoma?Physiother Can. 2015 Fall;67(4):365-68. doi: 10.3138/ptc.2014-79NHS.Shin splints.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
OrthoInfo.Shin splints.Winters M.The diagnosis and management of medial tibial stress syndrome : An evidence update. Diagnostik und Therapie des Schienbeinkantensyndroms : Update zur Studienlage.Unfallchirurg. 2020;123(Suppl 1):15‐19. doi:10.1007/s00113-019-0667-zMedlinePlus.Shin-splints - self-care.Franklyn M, Oakes B.Aetiology and mechanisms of injury in medial tibial stress syndrome: Current and future developments.World J Orthop. 2015;6(8):577‐589. Published 2015 Sep 18. doi:10.5312/wjo.v6.i8.577Bonasia DE, Rosso F, Cottino U, Rossi R.Exercise-induced leg pain.Asia Pac J Sports Med Arthrosc Rehabil Technol. 2015;2(3):73‐84. Published 2015 May 2. doi:10.1016/j.asmart.2015.03.003Arnold MJ, Moody AL.Common Running Injuries: Evaluation and Management.Am Fam Physician; 2018;97(8):510-516.Rankin A.An Evidence-Based Case Study of Unilateral Shin Splints: Do Red Flags Function in Paediatric Osteosarcoma?Physiother Can. 2015 Fall;67(4):365-68. doi: 10.3138/ptc.2014-79NHS.Shin splints.
OrthoInfo.Shin splints.
Winters M.The diagnosis and management of medial tibial stress syndrome : An evidence update. Diagnostik und Therapie des Schienbeinkantensyndroms : Update zur Studienlage.Unfallchirurg. 2020;123(Suppl 1):15‐19. doi:10.1007/s00113-019-0667-z
MedlinePlus.Shin-splints - self-care.
Franklyn M, Oakes B.Aetiology and mechanisms of injury in medial tibial stress syndrome: Current and future developments.World J Orthop. 2015;6(8):577‐589. Published 2015 Sep 18. doi:10.5312/wjo.v6.i8.577
Bonasia DE, Rosso F, Cottino U, Rossi R.Exercise-induced leg pain.Asia Pac J Sports Med Arthrosc Rehabil Technol. 2015;2(3):73‐84. Published 2015 May 2. doi:10.1016/j.asmart.2015.03.003
Arnold MJ, Moody AL.Common Running Injuries: Evaluation and Management.Am Fam Physician; 2018;97(8):510-516.
Rankin A.An Evidence-Based Case Study of Unilateral Shin Splints: Do Red Flags Function in Paediatric Osteosarcoma?Physiother Can. 2015 Fall;67(4):365-68. doi: 10.3138/ptc.2014-79
NHS.Shin splints.
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