Synonyms for tibial periostitis

• Medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS)
• Shin splints

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What is tibial periostitis?

It is an inflammation of the lining of the tibia, which is called the periosteum.

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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

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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

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If you also experience numbness, tingling, or prickling in your leg, foot, or toes, you likely have leg neuralgia.

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How is shin splints diagnosed?

Diagnosis is possible based on the history of symptoms and a clinical examination.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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What to do at home for shin splints?

Practice alternative activities if running is currently impossible (swimming, cycling, hiking).

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If you are a runner, refer to the blog article on running (link to come) for concrete tips for running.

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To learn more...

You can listen to the podcast PARLE-MOI DE SANTÉ created by one of our physiotherapists, Alexis Gougeon.

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Episode #1 discusses the prevention and treatment of running injuries.

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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.