Shin Splints Symptoms, Treatment, Recovery, and Prevention from WebMD (original) (raw)

Shin splints are when you have pain anywhere along your shin bone or tibia. Your tibia is the big bone that starts under your knee and runs down the front of your lower leg. The pain happens where your muscles attach to your shins. Shin splints are a common problem when you exercise a lot in ways that put stress on your lower legs.

If you have shin splints, your doctor also might call it medial tibial stress syndrome. That's another name for the painful inflammation you get when you overwork and stress the muscles, tendons, and bone in your shins.

Types of shin splints

Sometimes, you might see shin splints described as different types, such as anterior, medial, or posterior. These names relate to the different parts of your leg (front, middle, or back) and the muscles where you feel your pain. For example, you'll feel medial shin splints on the inner side of your shin, while anterior shin splints are on the outer side.

But shin splints aren't a specific injury with distinct types. It's a general name for pain along the front of your lower legs from overuse or stress. The most common place to feel pain in your shins is on the inner side.

Shin splints vs. stress fractures

Other conditions can make your shins hurt, too. If you have what you think are shin splints and they aren't getting better, check with your doctor to make sure you don't have a stress fracture in your tibia or some other condition.

While shin splints come with pain and inflammation, a stress fracture is a small crack in your bones. Both shin splints and stress fractures can happen when you put too much stress on the muscles, tendons, and bones in your lower legs. If you have shin splints and you don't rest, you could end up with a stress fracture.

Common symptoms of shin splints include:

What do shin splints feel like?

When you have shin splints, you might not feel them all the time. You might only feel it when you're running or exercising some other way that puts stress on your shins. As your shin splints get worse, you might start to feel the pain all the time.

You can get shin splints if you do the same exercises or motions many times in ways that put stress on the muscles, tendons, and bones around your shins. You could get them if you make sudden changes in your exercise routine, such as exercising harder, more often, or for a longer time. You might also get shin splints if you exercise with shoes that don't fit you well or are worn out.

Some forms of exercise are more likely to cause shin splints than others. Examples include:

But any type of exercise that puts a lot of stress on your lower legs could cause shin splints.

Some people are more likely to get shin splints than others. Your choices about exercise can also put you at more risk for shin splints. Risk factors for shin splints include:

The way your ankles and hips connect to your legs and how they move when you walk or run also can affect your risk for shin splints. If you exercise a lot and are worried about shin splints, ask your doctor about your risk and what you can do to lower it.

Shin splints often get better without treatment within a few weeks. But there are steps you can take to heal faster.

Shin splint massage

Massage may help you relax the muscles around your shins. Try rubbing your calves, Achilles tendon, and other muscles in your legs gently or go to a massage therapist who knows about shin splints. But it's a good idea to check with your doctor first. There isn't much evidence that massage will make shin splints go away. If massage adds to stress on your muscles and tendons, it could even make them worse.

Shin splint stretches

Stretching your lower legs and ankles may help your shin splints feel better and heal. Ask your doctor if you should see a physical therapist for advice about stretches or other exercises. Once you feel better, stretching may help you stay well.

How long do shin splints last?

There's no way to say exactly when your shin splints will go away. It depends on what caused them. People also heal at different rates; 3-6 months isn't unusual. The most important thing is that you don't rush back into your sport. If you start to work out before your shin heals, you may hurt yourself more.

If you decide to see a doctor, expect them to give you a thorough exam of your lower legs. They may watch you run to look for problems. They might also take X-rays or bone scans to check if it's shin splits or a stress fracture. They'll also make sure you don't have tendinitis (inflammation in the tendons that connect your muscles to your bones) or another, more serious issue.

It's important to give your shins time to rest. But you can try some exercises at home to gently stretch your calves, shins, and ankles. If you aren't sure or have questions, see a doctor or physical therapist for help.

Some stretching exercises to try include:

Other exercises you can do with a wall, chair, counter, or other items you may already have at home can help to strengthen your lower legs, hips, and ankles. These include:

You'll know your shins are fully healed when:

You can take steps to avoid shin splints before they happen or keep them from coming back. Tips include: