Shin splints refers to pain in the lower legs that can be from various causes but that typically is caused by running or vigorous walking.
(See also Overview of Sports Injuries.)
Pain can occur in the front or back of the leg below the knee.
Ice, analgesics, rest, and stretching exercises can help.
Repetitive impact forces in the legs during running or vigorous walking (such as hiking) can overload the muscles and tendons in the legs and cause shin pain. Excessive outward rotation of the foot on the leg (supination) may also cause or exacerbate shin splints.
Shin Splints
Shin splints may develop in the muscles in the front and outer parts of the shin (anterolateral shin splints) or in the muscles in the back and inner parts (posteromedial shin splints). Pain is felt in different areas, depending on which muscles are affected. |
Symptoms of Shin Splints
Pain can be in the front outer part of the leg or the back inner part of the leg. Shin splint pain typically begins at the start of activity but then lessens as activity continues. At first, the pain is felt only immediately after the heel strikes the ground during running or walking. If the person continues to run, the pain occurs throughout each step, eventually becoming constant. Pain usually disappears with rest.
Diagnosis of Shin Splints
A doctor's evaluation
Doctors diagnose shin splints based on symptoms and the results of a physical examination.
Treatment of Shin Splints
Rest
Ice and analgesics
Rehabilitation
A doctor will advise the person to stop running until it causes no pain. Applying ice and using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can relieve pain. Conditioning can be maintained with alternative exercises, such as swimming.
Once shin pain starts to subside, exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles in the legs, such as the bucket-handle exercise, can be done. The exercises are important to avoid recurrence. Wearing supportive shoes with rigid heel counters and arch supports and avoiding constant running on banked or hard surfaces may help prevent shin splints from recurring.
1. Sit in chair.
2. Bend knee on involved side to place top of involved foot on the floor with toes pointing backwards.
Courtesy of Tomah Memorial Hospital, Department of Physical Therapy, Tomah, WI; Elizabeth C.K. Bender, MSPT, ATC, CSCS; and Whitney Gnewikow, DPT, ATC.
1. Stand facing or next to wall with hands on the wall.
2. Bend knee on involved side to place top of involved foot on
Courtesy of Tomah Memorial Hospital, Department of Physical Therapy, Tomah, WI; Elizabeth C.K. Bender, MSPT, ATC, CSCS; and Whitney Gnewikow, DPT, ATC.
1. Stand facing or next to wall with hands on the wall for support.
2. Place uninvolved leg forward.
3. Keep rear leg s
Courtesy of Tomah Memorial Hospital, Department of Physical Therapy, Tomah, WI; Elizabeth C.K. Bender, MSPT, ATC, CSCS; and Whitney Gnewikow, DPT, ATC.
1. Stand facing or next to wall with hands on the wall for support.
2. Place uninvolved leg forward.
3. Keep heels on t
Courtesy of Tomah Memorial Hospital, Department of Physical Therapy, Tomah, WI; Elizabeth C.K. Bender, MSPT, ATC, CSCS; and Whitney Gnewikow, DPT, ATC.
1. Stand on balls of feet with heels off the floor.
2. Walk on balls of feet while keeping knees straight.
3. Walk as f
Courtesy of Tomah Memorial Hospital, Department of Physical Therapy, Tomah, WI; Elizabeth C.K. Bender, MSPT, ATC, CSCS; and Whitney Gnewikow, DPT, ATC.
1. Stand on heels with balls of feet off the floor.
2. Walk on heels while keeping knees straight.
3. Walk as far as ab
Courtesy of Tomah Memorial Hospital, Department of Physical Therapy, Tomah, WI; Elizabeth C.K. Bender, MSPT, ATC, CSCS; and Whitney Gnewikow, DPT, ATC.
1. Stand with both feet on step with heels off edge of step. Hold on to something for support.
2. Raise up on balls of
Courtesy of Tomah Memorial Hospital, Department of Physical Therapy, Tomah, WI; Elizabeth C.K. Bender, MSPT, ATC, CSCS; and Whitney Gnewikow, DPT, ATC.
1. Sit in chair.
2. Bend knee on involved side to place top of involved foot on the floor with toes pointing backwards.
3. Slowly sit forward in the chair and push foot down until a stretch is felt over the top of the foot and ankle.
4. Hold stretch for 30 seconds.
5. Do 1 set of 4 repetitions, 3 times a day.
6. Special instructions
a. Do plantarflexion stretching while either sitting or standing, whichever is most comfortable.
Courtesy of Tomah Memorial Hospital, Department of Physical Therapy, Tomah, WI; Elizabeth C.K. Bender, MSPT, ATC, CSCS; and Whitney Gnewikow, DPT, ATC.
1. Stand facing or next to wall with hands on the wall.
2. Bend knee on involved side to place top of involved foot on the floor with toes pointing backwards.
3. Bend knee on uninvolved side and slowly lower body until stretch is felt over the top of the foot and ankle.
4. Hold stretch for 30 seconds.
5. Do 1 set of 4 repetitions, 3 times a day.
6. Special instructions
a. Do plantarflexion stretching while either sitting or standing, whichever is most comfortable.
Courtesy of Tomah Memorial Hospital, Department of Physical Therapy, Tomah, WI; Elizabeth C.K. Bender, MSPT, ATC, CSCS; and Whitney Gnewikow, DPT, ATC.
1. Stand facing or next to wall with hands on the wall for support.
2. Place uninvolved leg forward.
3. Keep rear leg straight with knees and toes pointing toward the wall, keep rear heel on the floor.
4. Bend knee on uninvolved leg and lean hips toward the wall to feel a stretch along the calf of the rear leg.
5. Hold stretch for 30 seconds.
6. Do 1 set of 4 repetitions, 3 times a day.
Courtesy of Tomah Memorial Hospital, Department of Physical Therapy, Tomah, WI; Elizabeth C.K. Bender, MSPT, ATC, CSCS; and Whitney Gnewikow, DPT, ATC.
1. Stand facing or next to wall with hands on the wall for support.
2. Place uninvolved leg forward.
3. Keep heels on the floor and slowly bend both knees to feel stretch along the calf of the rear leg.
4. Hold stretch for 30 seconds.
5. Do 1 set of 4 repetitions, 3 times a day.
Courtesy of Tomah Memorial Hospital, Department of Physical Therapy, Tomah, WI; Elizabeth C.K. Bender, MSPT, ATC, CSCS; and Whitney Gnewikow, DPT, ATC.
1. Stand on balls of feet with heels off the floor.
2. Walk on balls of feet while keeping knees straight.
3. Walk as far as able during given time frame, stop at point of fatigue.
4. Do 3 sets of 1 minute, 1 time a day.
Courtesy of Tomah Memorial Hospital, Department of Physical Therapy, Tomah, WI; Elizabeth C.K. Bender, MSPT, ATC, CSCS; and Whitney Gnewikow, DPT, ATC.
1. Stand on heels with balls of feet off the floor.
2. Walk on heels while keeping knees straight.
3. Walk as far as able during given time frame, stop at point of fatigue.
4. Do 3 sets of 1 minute, 1 time a day.
Courtesy of Tomah Memorial Hospital, Department of Physical Therapy, Tomah, WI; Elizabeth C.K. Bender, MSPT, ATC, CSCS; and Whitney Gnewikow, DPT, ATC.
1. Stand with both feet on step with heels off edge of step. Hold on to something for support.
2. Raise up on balls of feet.
3. Focus on slowly lowering heels to below the height of the step.
4. Return to starting position and repeat.
5. Do 3 sets of 10 repetitions, 1 time a day.
Courtesy of Tomah Memorial Hospital, Department of Physical Therapy, Tomah, WI; Elizabeth C.K. Bender, MSPT, ATC, CSCS; and Whitney Gnewikow, DPT, ATC.
