Shin Splints

Shin splints are a common injury with long distance runners.  The pain is generally described as an aching pain that runs along the shin bone.  The pain usually is worst at the beginning of a run and progressively gets better if the athlete runs through the pain.  There are two kinds of shin splints: anterior shin splints and posterior shin splints.

Anterior shin splints is classically caused by your tibialis anterior muscle which runs along the front outer edge of your shin bone.  It can also be caused by the extensor digitorum and extensor hallucis longus muscles.  Release of adhesions between these muscles using A.R.T. will correct the problem.  The calf muscles will also need to be vigorously stretched.  The calf muscles tend to overpower the smaller anterior muscles.  This imbalance between the posterior and anterior shin muscles contributes to the shin splint problem.  Kinesiotaping is also highly effective treatment for this condition.

Posterior shin splints is a problem of the tibialis posterior muscle, which is a muscle that runs posterior and medial to the shin bone.  Usually posterior shin splints is caused by a dropped foot arch.  The best means to correct this problem is through a custom orthotic that will maintain proper foot biomechanics.