Oww, The Front Of My Lower Leg Hurts. Can It Be Shin Splints?
If you have ever experienced pain on the front of your lower leg, you might think it is shin splints. But just what are shin splints?
Typically, the term refers to pain along either side of your tibia, the large weight bearing bone of your lower leg. It is often termed medial tibial stress syndrome or anterior shin splints.
Shin splints usually occurs after hard exercise, prolonged repetitive activity or a large increase in training. Inflammation can occur in the soft tissue on either side of the tibia – muscles and tendons such as Anterior and Posterior Tibialis or the soft tissue they attach to over the bone. Excessive muscle pulling on the tissue over the bone can produce inflammation and pain. If you continue to engage in pain producing activities and do not treat the pain it could progress to a tibial stress fracture.
What can you do? Immediately stop all aggravating activities, plus ice and Ibuprofen may help reduce pain and inflammation. If your goal is to return to a sport, training, or physical activities, see your physical therapist. Your PT will perform an evaluation to determine possible causes of your pain and provide you with a treatment program. Treatment could include pain and inflammation relieving modalities, guided, progressive stretching and strengthening exercises and guided return to sports and activities.
So, if you are having along your shin visit your PT. We can get back on your feet and to your favorite activity.
-Joann Tippett, MSPT, CKT, CCI