Shin splints are very common, affecting many athletes at one time or another. Shin splint is a catch all phrase to describe inflammation in the muscles, tendons and even the bones of the lower leg. It relates to anterior and posterior tibial tendonitis and tendonosis. Many factors contribute to shin splints Massage, self-care, and adjustments to your workout regimen can all be helpful in addressing them.Symptoms:There are two types of shin splints: Anterior and Posterior Medial. They can be identified by the following factors:Pain on the front of the shin or medial side of the shin bonePalpable inflammation in tibialis anterior or posterior musclesFoot slap when running due to the inability to recruit muscles that lower the foot.Check shoes for inward collapse or over-pronation, common with medial shin splintsPain typically worsens with running or hikingCauses:Increasing speed, impact, intensity or duration too quickly.Poor bio-mechanics such as over pronationUnsupportive footwear (particularly in the medial arch)Poor shock adsorption of footwearImbalance of musculature in the lower legTreatment:A MassageSpecialists.com practitioner will evaluate your injury and provide a comprehensive treatment plan depending on the severity of your injury. Because it is a soft tissue problem, massage therapy is one of the most effective means of treating shin splints. Healing can also be expedited with diligent self-care. A treatment plan may include:Appropriate stretches (check out our running stretch program here)Activity modification such as changing running surfaces, warming up before working outProper footwearOrthopedic supportCryotherapy (check out our guide here)Self-massageAlternative exercises
