Shin splints
It is an inflammation of the lining of the tibia, which is called the periosteum.
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Synonyms for tibial periostitis
- Medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS)
- Shin splints
What is tibial periostitis?
It is an inflammation of the lining of the tibia, which is called the periosteum.
What are the causes of tibial periostitis?
In general, it is an injury that is most commonly seen in runners. Here are the common causes leading to this injury:
- Running with loud impacts on the ground
- Running more on the balls of your feet without being used to it.
- A recent change in running training (speed, volume, type of terrain, etc.)
- Overuse of the flexor muscles in our foot and toes
What are the symptoms of shin splints?
The symptoms are:
- Pain on the inside of the shinbone that can be very specific or more diffuse
- The pain is generally felt when running or, more rarely, when walking
- The pain improves with rest
If you also experience numbness, tingling, or prickling in your leg, foot, or toes, you likely have leg neuralgia.
How is shin splints diagnosed?
Diagnosis is possible based on the history of symptoms and a clinical examination.
When should you see a physiotherapist for shin splints?
You should consult a physiotherapist if you have symptoms as described above or if your doctor has already ruled out any other cause that may be causing your pain.
You do not need to see a doctor before consulting a physiotherapist. If your condition requires you to see a doctor, your physiotherapist will be able to tell you.
What are the physiotherapy treatments for shin splints?
Your physiotherapist will perform an assessment to determine the cause of your shin splints and will evaluate the following:
- Your joint mobility
- The gliding of your nerves
- The quality of your movements
- Your strength and stability
Based on the results of the assessment, your physiotherapist:
- Will mobilize stiff joints or nerves in the legs.
- Will give you specific exercises to retrain the strength and stabilization of your leg.
- Provide you with specific exercises to learn how to properly control your movements.
- Teach you how to properly manage your daily activities and hobbies to optimize healing
- Give you advice for your posture and movements.
What to do at home for shin splints?
Practice alternative activities if running is currently impossible (swimming, cycling, hiking).
If you are a runner, refer to the blog article on running (link to come) for concrete tips for running.
To learn more...
You can listen to the podcast PARLE-MOI DE SANTÉ created by one of our physiotherapists, Alexis Gougeon.
Episode #1 discusses the prevention and treatment of running injuries.
Find the episode on YouTube:
Click below for episodes on podcast platforms:
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Sources
- Galbraith RM, Lavallee ME. Medial tibial stress syndrome: conservative treatment options. Current reviews in musculoskeletal medicine. 2009 Sep 1;2(3):127-33.
- McClure CJ, Oh R. Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome. InStatPearls [Internet] 2019 Apr 4. StatPearls Publishing.
Videos in this category
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