Sometimes, excessive stress and repetitive use can cause an overload on the shinbone (or tibia) and tibialis muscles, resulting in what is known as shin splints. Constant overuse tends to pull the edge of the muscles away from the bone, causing the injured muscle and the periosteum (the bone covering) to become inflamed. Your tibia muscles and shinbone can be overused through quick changes in your training as well as increased running and activity over angled or hard surfaces over a long period of time. Overuse can also happen when you wear shoes that are flimsy or whose soles are worn out.
There are generally two kinds of shin splints: anterior shin splints and posterior shin splints. Anterior shin splints result in the inflammation of the anterior tibia muscles in your leg. The main causes of anterior shin splints are those activities which require quick starts and stops. Examples are jogging, basketball, or sprinting. The sudden force changes result in a heavy strain and pressure on your anterior tibialis muscle, causing it to become inflamed and irritated. If you're not a habitual practitioner of the said activities, then you're in a likely risk of getting this shin splint. Non-regular runners who suddenly decide to go on a long sprint are especially prone to this condition as the anterior tibialis muscles must work extra hard to control the forefoot's landing with each stride. Running downhill is even worse as doing so adds more strain on this muscle just so your forefoot won't slap down. On a lesser scale, people who run wearing shoes with poor shock absorption and those who run on the balls of their feet are also prone to contract this kind of shin splint.
Posterior shin splints, on the other hand, result from strains put on the posterior tibia muscles. They are caused foot and leg imbalances. As such, people who have flat arches and imbalances on their tight calf muscles tend to be more susceptible to this condition than those with normal foot and leg formation. Posterior shin splints usually happen when the posterior tibia muscle gets stretched as the foot becomes flat during each step. The stretch causes the muscle to repeatedly tug on it's tibia attachment, causing pain and inflammation if it goes on long and hard enough.
People who suffer from shin splints usually feel a throbbing, dull ache on either the front or the back of their lower legs. Mild swelling and tenderness can also be felt on the joints where the muscle attaches to the bone. Usually, the pain stops after you've stopped any activity you were doing prior to getting the condition.
If you're suffering from a shin splint, there is no overt cause for concern as a shin split is rarely serious. It tends to go away without serious medications after a while. Just the same, there are several things you can do to get rid of it faster.
Get some rest, but don't be inactive. Stop any activity that may exacerbate the pain or swelling. However, resting does not mean you stop moving the legs altogether. It is still important that you keep them mobile and supple. Engage in low-impact exercise like light jogging or walking. If the pain becomes too intense even with these, consider using walking aids like crutches until you can do so without their help.
Apply some cold compress on the affected part. Ice packs help in easing the pain and inflammation by decreasing blood flow on the area. Apply the compress for 15 to 20 minutes four or five times a day, for several days or until the pain and swelling has gone down. Be sure to protect your skin by putting a cloth between it and the ice compress.
Heat and massage will help get rid of the shin splint quicker. After the pain and inflammation have gone down, a regimen of moist heat and massage will help to speed up the healing process of the affected muscles. The heat will promote circulation and deep tissue massage works to keep your muscles and tissues supple and working.
Elevate the legs. Elevating the legs above heart level, especially at night, can help reduce the swelling. An elastic bandage or compression sleeve applied on the affected part is also recommended. If pain or numbness occurs, loosen the wrap.
Take anti-inflammatory medications. Aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammataory drugs like Ibuprofen help to reduce the pain and the inflammation of your shin splints. They are especially useful in controlling pain if you plan on doing low-level exercises while waiting for your shin splint to heal. However, if you have other problems like kidney or gastrointestinal diseases, be sure to consult with your physician first before taking any form of medication. After all, you do not want another pain on top of the one on your legs.
Do some stretching and muscle conditioning before any activity. If you subject your muscles to immediate exertion and stress without warm-ups and stretching, you run the risk of worsening your shin splint problem. Proper stretching will prepare your muscles for any long-term activity, keeping it loose and ready. Proper stretching of the injured muscle can also help in the healing process.
Wear proper footwear. The proper shoes can help your foot in absorbing shocks and stress your legs are subjected to every time you jog or engage in any activity. Your physician can recommend you the best show that is suited for your type of sport, your particular foot type, as well as your stride, helping you in your recovery and future prevention of shin splint flare-ups.
Proper training and exercise will go a long way to condition and stretch your leg muscles so they will be able to better accommodate any form of stress you subject them to. Increasing their dynamic flexibility will keep your muscles in top shape. As always, know your limits and do not over-exert yourself. These tips will ensure that you won't have to limp your way through shin split at all.
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