Shin splints1 refer to a general term associated with pain caused in one’s shin and lower portion of the leg, such as knees and ankles’ areas. Based on broad classification, shin splint or pain takes place by the combination of shin bone i.e. tibia, muscles and tenoperiosteum.
Can Shin Splints Go Away On Its Own?2
Regardless of the type of shin splint, you will experience a diffuse and a dull type of pain at the time or after you run or walk. Most of the new joggers often experience shin splints as they start with the running activity. However, the pain goes away once the body becomes able to deal with the stress related to running after only a few days.
On the other side, in case the pain fails to go away on its own or becomes more sharp and constant, shin splint may develop and in some cases, it may convert to stress fracture. Hence, in this case, you have to follow certain steps or undergo treatment to avoid the progression of shin splints, so that your pain does not become worse.
As discussed before, the problem of shin splint heals on its own in most of the cases. However, in case your problem progresses, you should consult with your doctor and undergo a proper physical exam. In this case, doctors may watch you while running to identify your problems. Moreover, depending on your condition, doctors may even take bone scans or X-rays to check for fractures. Nevertheless, if fracture does not present, doctors recommend-
Rest The Body: One of the best ways to deal with your condition is to rest your body for some time, as the problem requires some time to heal properly.
Apply Ice To The Shin Splint: Next, you should apply ice to the shin splint to ease your pain as well as swelling both. You have-to do so for about 20minutes to half an hour after every 3or4hour until your pain ends.
Application Of Shoe Inserts: Another effective way to deal with the problem is to use orthotics or insoles as show inserts. In this case, you may opt for bought off the shelf or custom-made type of shoe inserts. These inserts help you to flat or collapse your arches while you stand straight.
Intake Anti-inflammatory Painkillers: Doctors recommend you to intake specific anti-inflammatory painkillers in case of requirement. Especially, you should go with non-steroidal type of anti-inflammatory drugs, such as naproxen, ibuprofen or aspirin, as they help you to manage your swelling and pain both.
Types of Shin Splints
Shin splints take place of two different types, which include the following-
Anterior Type Of Shin Splints3
Anterior shin splints remain present on the anterior or front part of one’s shinbone and involve anterior muscle of tibialis. In this case, anterior lifts as well as lowers the foot. Anterior part of your shinbone lifts the foot while you involve in swing phase of stride and later on, it slowly reduces the same foot in preparing it for the supporting phase.
In case pain in your anterior shin increases while you lift up your toes by keeping heels over the ground, you likely suffer from the problem of anterior shin splints. In medical terms, anterior shin splints indicate anterior tibial stress syndrome.
Posterior Type Of Shin Splints4
Posterior shin splints are on medial or posterior i.e. inside rear portion of one’s shinbone and it involves tibialis posterior muscles. Posterior of one’s tibialis is responsible to lift and control medial aspects of a person’s foot arch at the time of weight bearing supporting phase. Whenever your tibialis posterior becomes weak or lacks endurance, you suffer from overpronation i.e. arch collapses to create torsion type of shinbone stresses. In case you feel pain across inner rear of the shinbone, you would likely suffer from tibia stress fracture or posterior type of shin splint. Medical experts also call posterior shin splints as medial tibial type of stress syndrome.
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