Do you think you might Have Shin splints ?

Medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS), commonly known as “shin splints,” is a common injury of the lower limb and one of the most common causes of exertional leg pain in athletes.

The most likely cause of your shin splints is the chronic inflammation of the muscular attachment along the back and inner part of the shinbone and bony changes, including periostitis or local bone stress reaction. Periostitis is a condition where the outer covering of a bone becomes swollen and painful due to overuse or repetitive stress.

The risk factors of shin splints can be multi-factorial, which includes:

• Training errors, especially when you overload or when you run too fast.
• Sudden changes in the training program, such as an increase in loading, intensity and duration.
• Running on a hard or uneven surface with improper running shoes (i.e. a poor shock absorbing capacity)
• Running more than 30km/week
• History of previous leg injury/ shin splints
• Biomechanical abnormalities as foot rolls inward excessively when walking or running, unequal leg length, and flat feet.
• Female gender, due to nutritional, hormonal and biomechanical differences.
• Fewer years of running experience.
• Overweight or increased BMI

The symptoms presents as a vague, dull pain starting from the middle of the lower leg and ending near the ankle. The pain normally diffused over 5cm and is often on both legs. The most common complication of shin splints is stress fracture, which presents as tenderness of the front of the lower leg.

In the early stage, you only feel pain at the beginning of the training, often disappear while exercising, only to return during the cool-down period. When shin splints get worse, the pain can remain during exercise and also could be present for days after last training.

Chiropractic care may be beneficial in managing medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS)/shin splints.

Here are some ways in which our chiropractors in Joondalup may get you on the road to recovery .

• Giving advice for life style modification: 2-6 weeks of rest from the offending activity, depending on the severity of the symptoms. Once the pain subsided, you may slowly increase training intensity and duration as long as it remains pain-free.
• If indicated, foot orthotics or exercises, to help restore foot and lower limb alignment.
• Chiropractic adjustments: Adjustments may improve the alignment of the spine and your ankle joints, which can alleviate stress and strain on the legs, feet, and ankles.
• Soft tissue therapy and dry needling: Soft tissue therapy, such as massage or myofascial release, may relieve muscle tension and improve circulation in the affected area.
• Rehabilitation exercises: Chiropractors can provide specific exercises and stretches to help strengthen the muscles of the lower leg and improve flexibility, which can help prevent future injuries.
• Education and advice: Chiropractors can provide advice on proper footwear, training techniques, and other lifestyle factors that avoid prevent shin splints from recurring.

It's important to note that the effectiveness of chiropractic care for shin splints may vary from person to person, and a multidisciplinary approach may be necessary for more severe cases.

Individuals with shin splints are highly susceptible to re-injury, here are tips to minimize the risk of shin splints:

• Avoid hills and uneven surface during the initial stages of returning to training.
• Proper footwear during exercises, and change running shoes every 400-800km as shoes lose shock absorbing capacity at this distance.
• Maintain proper alignment of your pelvis and lower limbs.
• On return to training after a break, follow the progressive, not excessive, overload principle. Begin at 50% of your peak load and don’t increase your training load by more than 10% per week –giving yourself a good 6-week period to acclimatize to training load.

If you're suffering from shin splints, Lakeside chiropractic clinic are here for you. We are located in Joondalup , central Walk. Our chiropractors can provide a holistic approach to managing shin splints by addressing the underlying causes of the condition and providing effective treatment options.

In addition to these treatment options, our chiropractors in Joondalup Lakeside Chiropractic can also provide rehabilitation exercises, education on proper footwear and training techniques, and advice on other lifestyle factors that can help prevent MTSS from recurring. Lakeside chiropractic located in Joondalup  may manage the pain and discomfort of  shin splints, and improve your overall quality of life. Book online at www.lakesidechiro.com.au or by calling our friendly reception team on 9300 0095.