Shin splints, also known as medial tibial stress syndrome

Shin splints, also known as medial tibial stress syndrome, is the catch-all term for lower leg pain that occurs below the knee either on the front outside part of the leg (anterior shin splints) or the inside of the leg (medial shin splints).

The condition typically involves only one leg, and almost always the athlete’s dominant one. If the athlete is right-handed, he or she is usually right-footed as well. Thus, the right leg of this individual would be more susceptible to shin splints.

Risk factors for medial tibial stress syndrome

What factors put physically active individuals at risk to develop medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS)?

• body mass index (BMI), navicular bone drop (the navicular bone, one of the small bones located at the instep or arch of the middle of the foot, drops out of place as the foot-arch complex becomes unstable due to excessive pronation (tilt).

• ankle instability causing hyper plantar-flexion range of motion

• quadriceps angle,

• hip instability causing hyper plantar-flexion range of motion.

Other researchers also add

• Being female sex

• previous running injury.

Doctors at Tokyo Medical and Dental University examined runners for Medial tibial stress syndrome (shin splints) to determine risk factors for High School age athletes.

Here are their findings:

• In females, higher Body Mass Index significantly increased the risk of Medial tibial stress syndrome

• Increased internal rotation of the hip significantly increased the risk of Medial tibial stress syndrome

Instability and excessive joint movement, besides being a risk factor for shin splints are risk factors for osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease. In the ankle and hip, stabilizing ligaments may be worn or damaged; Ligament laxity (looseness) is a primary cause of joint instability.

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Treatment options

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Since shin splints are felt as intense pain in the leg, traditional treatment usually involves rest. This is after other measures, such as taping the arches, using heal cups in the athletic shoes and applying topical creams to the sore muscles have failed to give relief. The problem with this approach is that resting the muscles and the periosteum, or the bone covering, will further weaken the already weak structures. It does not repair the weakened ligaments of the hip and ankle.

Dutch doctors also warn against the use of corticosteroids, in the conclusion to their research, the investigators found “no positive effect of injections with corticosteroids. . . Furthermore, considerable tissue atrophy and hypopigmentation of the skin was observed.” Corticosteroids made the condition worse.

As explained above, in my opinion, I prefer to approach shin splints by triggering ligament repair with Prolotherapy and it really give very good results .