Shin Splints is a painful condition that develops along the lower half of the inside (medial) edge of the shin (tibia). The repeated pounding and exertion of running fatgues muscles in the area, which may cause them to exert higher forces on nearby fascia, the fascia's attachment to the bone, and even the bone itself.

In early stages of shin splints, runners will experience a pain in the lower portion of one or both of their shins that is present before and in the beginning of runs, but usually disappears quickly. In severe cases continual stress to the bone that is often present with shin splints can lead to a stress fracture developing in the area.

Treatment

The usual treatment is rest, perhaps without running, until there is no pain during normal daily activities. To ice this area while best isolating it, use a large ice cube. Using small Dixie cups you can create ice cubes specifically for this purpose. Strong, targetted massage can also be of benefit, especially in early stages when the pain is still resulting from muscles tightness and fatigue.

External Links

• Shin Splints by Dr. Jenky (http://www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/shin.html)