What Are the Treatments for Shin Splint Injuries?

Shin splints, or medial tibial stress syndrome, is a broad medical term used to describe pain or tenderness experienced along the large bone in the lower leg, the tibia. Typically, shin splints, which affect the inner leg, occur as a result of strenuous or repetitive physical activity. The activity causes the muscles, tendons and tissue (periosteum) to become inflamed, which may impact the bone.

Causes

• Shin splints are typically caused by a sudden change in physical activity, repetitive physical activity or certain types of physical activity, including running long distances, running on hills or dancing frequently. A rapid and dramatic increase in the frequency or intensity of physical training, exercise or physical activity is also a common cause of shin splints. In general, any activity that causes swelling or irritation in the lower tibia, the muscle or the tendons in the lower leg can cause shin splints.

Risk Factors

• Those with flat feet or rigid arches are especially susceptible to shin splints. Shin splints also frequently affect runners or joggers, dangers or those undergoing military training.

Treatments

• There are both surgical and nonsurgical treatments for shin splints. The majority of shin splints are treated non-surgically, with modified activity, physical therapy or other prescription/home remedies. If shin splints are severe and/or do not respond to treatment, surgery may be necessary. A lack of response to treatment may also be indicative of a more serious medical problem.

Nonsurgical Treatment

• Generally, nonsurgical treatments are appropriate in the majority of cases of shin splints. Typically, the patient is told to rest for several weeks and refrain from the activity that caused the shin splints. Doctors may also prescribe anti-inflammatory medications to reduce the swelling in the muscles and tendons. Cold packs, ice or mild compression on the impacted area can also help aid in healing. Stretching or other physical therapy may be recommended. Generally, when you suffer from shin splints, you must be very careful to gradually build back up to a normal level of activity. You should ensure that you stretch thoroughly before beginning any activity that could cause shin splints and that you warm up before exercise. If you begin to experience any pain when undergoing activity, you should cease the activity immediately, rest for a few days and use ice packs or other compresses at the site of the pain.

Surgical Treatment

• The effectiveness of surgery for shin splints has not been proven. Generally, shin splints are only treated surgically if the shin splints do not respond to any form of nonsurgical treatment. This is rare, and in the majority of cases, when shin splints do not respond to treatment, there is another cause of the leg pain.

  Stress fractures are often misdiagnosed as shin splints, and if shin splints do not respond to nonsurgical treatment, there is a good chance you are actually suffering from a stress fracture. Stress fractures can be diagnosed using a bone scan or MRI. Tendonitis (a tear or inflammation of a tendon) and chronic exertional compartment syndrome (a condition in which muscles swell with exertion) are also misdiagnosed as shin splints, and may explain why a diagnosed shin splint does not respond to nonsurgical treatment. Chronic exertional compartment syndrome is rare and typically diagnosed only by specialists. Surgery is recommended for chronic exertional compartment syndrome.