Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome commonly known as shin splints is the condition pain occurs along the tibia. Especially, the area where causes pain is 5cm or longer than that. *1
Aetiology
One of the most prevalent causes is the overuse which is more than 20 miles of running per week.
- Increase the exercise level
- ·Flat feet
- ·Improper shoes
Some conditions such as tendinopathy, compartment syndrome and periostitis might associate with shin splints
Differential diagnosis
Compartment syndrome
Definition-Injury and repetitive stress create pressure on fascial compartment which leads to starvation and death of muscle and nerve.
Aetiology-Crumping, burning pain, numbness around the calf, pins and needles sensation in the foot as muscles start to compress the nerves.
sign and symptoms
Acute-severe pain ,taut skin, swelling, hard and hot to touch
Chronic-It develops slowly, pain after activity, crumping, weakness and numbness, reduced temperature and hot to touch
Treatment
Acute-medial emergency
Chronic-Check the foot wear, stretch carefully and warm up and cool down
Tibial fracture
Area in which there is a pain is less than 5 cm whereas shin splint has pain longer than 5cm.
Sign and symptoms of Shin splints
Clients often complain about pain along the tibia
Pain is provoked during and after physical activity
Treatment for shin splints
If it is acute stage…
- ·Ice where there is a pain
Sub acute stage
- Modify the exercise level to lower intensity
- REST is one of the best treatments
- Manual therapy tibial posterior, gastrocnemius, soleus, peroneus longus and brevis can help to release the pain
- Ultrasound therapy
Exercise
- Calf raise
- Single leg calf raise
- Toes pulling: put your foot on a towel, grab and pull the towel with your toes
*Make sure you get a foot arch on the sole of the foot
Reference
- M Winters, E W P Bakker and M H Moen Medial tibialstress syndrome can be diagnosed reliably using history and physical examination 2017 British journal of sports medicine
- Web MD What are shin splints? https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/shin-splints#1
- 2. Better health channel Shin splints
- https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/ConditionsAndTreatments/shin-splints
- 3. R.Michael galbraith and Mark E. Lavallee Medial tibial stress syndrome. Curr Musculoskeletal Med. 2009 Sep;2(3):127-133
- 4. Willems T. Gait-related risk factors for exercise-related lower-leg pain during shod running. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007;39(2):330–339. doi: 10.1249/01.mss.0000247001.94470.21.
- 5. BENTON phisical therapy http://www.bentonphysicaltherapy.com/shin-splints-1/#prettyPhoto
