Understanding Shin Splints - Essay Example

Understanding Shin Splints Regular exercise is a critical component to a healthy lifestyle, but improper or excessive exercise can cause nagging injuries that can sideline an individual. One commonly occurring injury for runners and other athletes is Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS), also called shin splints. While often blamed as the cause of other lower leg pain, MTSS is a specific tissue-related condition found in the shin area. Medically, the loosing of muscle in the shin area and the process needed to heal this injury causes the pain of shin splints.

Physically, it is the result of too much foot-to-ground contact or the abnormalities of such contact. There are several causes and some disagreement over treatment methods. Understanding the root of the injury and the need for thorough healing should prevent shin splints from becoming a chronic injury. MTSS is caused by miniscule separations of the calf muscle where it connects to the posteromedial tibia, or shinbone. It can also be caused by inflammation of the posterior tbialis muscle, directly below the calf muscle1.

Running, aerobic exercise, and excessive walking are the most common causes of MTSS. Congenital conditions such as flat-footedness and being bow-legged can also cause this injury. For the conditioned athlete such as a runner or dancer, MTSS is likely the result of a repetitive motion over a continued period of time, or increasing the intensity of exercise. For novices, it is likely the result of an over-ambitious workout. Exercising such with worn or ill-fitting shoes can also be a cause2. The most common symptom of this condition is reoccurring pain, and may be connected with more serious bone injury.

If an athlete is afflicted with shin splints the most common treatment is rest and refrain from excessive running or walking. While there is a myth that continued running will ease the pain of shin splints, trainer Jim Thornton explains that continued activity will not allow the loosened muscle to heal properly 3. According to Dr. Steven Below, The proper treatment regimen should be refraining from all leg exercise to relieve the pain. For the first week after the pain subsides, for example, substitute running with riding a bicycle or other less stressful contact exercise.

Then, resume regular activity at half of the pre-injury intensity and increase the level steadily over a three to six week period. In addition, the athlete may consider new footwear or increased shoe padding to reduce the intensity of foot-to-ground contact, as well as scaling back the exercise regiment for beginners. For chronic and extreme cases, there are also surgical remedies to detach the calf muscle from the shinbone to alleviate the pain4. Because of the similar symptoms, stress fractures are often incorrectly diagnosed as shin splints, but as Dr.

Below explains, MTSS is a fundamentally different injury. MTSS causes pain on the lower, inner portion of the leg whereas a stress fracture will cause pain in the upper, outer portion. Rest and recovery should heal MTSS, but not stress fractures. As a simple test, one can determine which condition they have by hopping on one foot about ten times. An individual with MTSS will be able to complete this test, but it will be too painful to complete for a sufferer of a stress fracture. A bone Scan or MRI can also determine the distinction5.

According to Dr. Gerald Packman, There may be a link between MTSS and stress fractures but it has not been proven 6. Proper diagnosis is key, as stress fractures without treatment can lead to more serious fractures. Proper care, however, should heal MTSS, as it doesn't have to sideline an athlete for an extended period of time. Works Cited Below, Steven K. "How to Manage Shin Splints." Hughston Health Alert. 2003. Hughston Sports Medicine Foundation. 4 Mar. 2006 http://www.hughston.com/hha/a_15_1_4.

htm Lawrence, Star. "First Aid Myths, Ignore these summer 'Cures'." Webmd. 2005. Emdeon Corporation. 4 Mar. 2006 http://www.webmd.com/content/Article/107/108508.htmpagenumber=3 Packman, Gerald S. "Shin Splints." AAOS.Org. 2005. American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons. 4 Mar. 2006 http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/fact/thr_report.cfmthread_id=135&topcategory=Sports%20/%20Exercise