Whether you are a current high school athlete, a former All American track star or
simply enjoying the exhilaration of a weekend jog, your legs are subjected to an extreme
amount of force with each step or lunge you take. Sometimes, the stresses on the legs
can overwhelm the associated musculature in the area, which places additional stress
on the primary bone of the leg, the tibia. If the tibia cannot adapt to the added stress,
microtears in the connective tissue along the tibia can develop, leading to what is called
Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome, or more commonly, shin splints.
Shin splint pain can arise from various factors. Generally speaking, they are a result of
overloading the soft tissue structures of the lower limb, as seen in runners that haven't
run in a long period of time, people running greater lengths or for longer periods of time
than their bodies are conditioned, or people prone to biomechanical irregularies such as
over pronation of the foot, foot/ankle mal-alignmnent or chronically tightened lower
limb musculature. Shin splints are also seen in jumping sports or any situation in which
the tibia may be sheared, jarred, or otherwise subjected to increased force, especially torsion. The common presentation of shin splint pain is described as a recurring, dull ache along the inside and backside of the the lower leg.
Adjustments to the foot, ankle and/or knee may be utilized in conjunction with soft tissue treatments such as Active Release Technique®, Kinesiotaping, Graston or guasha. Acupuncture may also be advised as it is often successful in decreasing inflammation/edema, as well as significantly improving pain levels.
You may be wondering if there is a cure for shin splints. The doctors at Innate are trained and experienced at shin splint pain relief treatments naturally, without drugs or surgery. After examination they select from a variety of treatments for shin splints which are best suited to treat your condition. These may include Chiropractic, Acupuncture or Active Release Technique®.
Innate Chiropractic Health,LLC