Shin Splints Symptoms

The feeling of pressure within the lower leg muscles is not a rare complaint amongst runners, and even after finishing exercise for the day this can remain. Pain and swelling are indicative of a muscle or tendon injury, and whilst these can sometimes be run off, in the case of shin splints it can make the condition worse. Shin splints symptoms include pain, swelling redness and soreness in the front of the leg, from the knee to the ankle.

Shin splints can be a major frustration, limiting enjoyment of exercise, and can at times be highly painful. In severe cases shin splints can require a lengthy period of rehabilitation, and for an athlete it can mean time on the sidelines whilst waiting for the condition to heal. When time is of the essence, and getting back to the game all important, getting an accurate diagnosis and the proper shin splints treatment is vital.

Recognizing shin splints symptoms quickly is important to ensure that treatment can be rapidly taken. Quick treatment with ice, compression and elevation can greatly reduce the pain, swelling and inflammation. Stopping exercise for 72 hours to give the tendons in the shins time to recover is important to prevent further injury.

Common Shin Splints Symptoms

The symptoms of shin splints are quite easy to recognize if you know what to look for. The most common shin splints symptoms are:

Shin Pain

As with other traumatic injuries, the most common symptom of shin splints is pain, in this case at the front of the legs from the ankle to the knee. Pain is usually felt in the mid-region of the leg, close to the shinbone or just below the knee. The pain can radiate to other nearby areas because of the network of nerves that innervate the muscles.

The pain may start at the beginning of a workout, and ease when the muscles get warmed up, may strike mid run, or after exercise has finished. The pain can be intense enough to stop you in your tracks. The pain should ease with rest, but may return intermittently. The pain is usually worse during exercise and immediately afterwards.

The extent of the injury is usually restricted to a 6 to 9 inch area, and is most common just below the knee, although it can occur anywhere along the posterior or anterior tibial tendon, from the knee to the ankle.

Swelling in the Shins

With shin splints, the affected muscles are the anterior and posterior tibialis tendons in the shins. Almost all muscular injuries involve swelling as the tissues become inflamed, and there is localized fluid retention in response to the trauma. Swelling and inflammation may continue for several days, and can linger for months if the condition is left untreated.

Tenderness in the Shins

Tenderness is a another of the common shin splints symptoms, and is most often felt at the area just below the knee. The pain can originate from the periosteum – the fibrous sheath that surrounds the bones. The periosteum houses an intricate system of nerves and blood vessels, which are responsible for sensation and skeletal nourishment. When the tibia becomes inflamed, tenderness and pain can be felt along the muscles in the lower leg.

Numbness

Due to swelling and inflammation of the lower leg muscles, compartment syndrome can occur. This is due to the compression of nerves, blood vessels and muscles within the three muscle compartments of the lower leg: the anterior, lateral and posterior compartments. If experiencing numbness in the legs, it is important to see a doctor. With compartment syndrome, the swelling within a compartment can cause nerve compression, and restriction of blood flow, and the pressure needs to be released to prevent longer lasting damage.

Whilst painful and frustrating, shin splints can heal reasonably quickly and may never recur. Treatment is usually straightforward and easy to administer. If the standard RICE treatment is adhered to and is started quickly following experiencing shin splints symptoms, the pain, swelling and inflammation can be greatly reduced. RICE stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation and is one of the best initial treatment options, certainly to get through the first 72 hours. If ice is immediately applied to the affected shin for a 15 minute period, swelling can be limited, inflammation controlled and the ice acts as a great pain reliever.

For more severe cases, and when shin splints symptoms return frequently, a more comprehensive rehabilitation program may be required. Ultrasound can be highly beneficial and can speed up recovery, with Kinesio taping and compression bandages effective when total rest is not possible. Compression and elevation of the leg can improve blood circulation and help to prevent the build up of fluids, and should help to prevent further injury.

Healing can take a couple of weeks to a couple of months depending on the severity of the condition. It is worthwhile undertaking a thorough rehabilitation program should shin splints recur. If shin splints have struck once, there is a tendency for the condition to return. Ascertaining the underlying cause is important, as until that is isolated and removed from the equation future attacks are likely.

Simple changes to exercise regimes, choosing the correct footwear, getting correct support for the foot arches, and increasing the duration, intensity and frequency of exercise gradually are all good prevention steps. Strength building and stretching should be a regular feature of any rehabilitation program to keep the muscles and tendons flexible, and to stave of muscle fatigue for longer. When recovering, should shin splints symptoms return, it is advisable to cease exercise and seek medical attention, to find the root cause of the problem.