Shin Splints




How many times have you awakened and discovered that the front of your leg hurts? Your mind begins to review all of your activities that occurred in the previous day and concludes "I overdid it running."

Yes, we all have experienced this pain commonly called shin splints.  According to Moore and Agur, in their landmark textbook,  Essential Clinical Anatomy, "shin splints, edema and pain in the area of the distal third of the tibia, results from repetitive microtrauma of the tibilias anterior."

In the drawing above, the tibilias anterior muscle is located at the front of the lower leg. It is one of several  muscles that are surrounded by some connective tissue called fascia.  This connective tissue acts like an elastic sock that maintains some mild pressure on the muscle.  Muscle irritation inside tight compartments causes problems.

So, if the muscles become irritated from sudden overuse, then logically we need to rest those muscles until the pain subsides and upon resumption of exercise, gradually increase duration. Of course, any significant increase in pain requires evaluation by a medical professional.

Enhanced by Zemanta