Shin Splints Treatment in Kenya

The term “shin splints” refers to pain along the shin bone (tibia) — the large bone in the front of your lower leg. Shin splints are common in runners, dancers and military recruits.

Medically known as medial tibial stress syndrome, shin splints often occur in athletes who have recently intensified or changed their training routines. The increased activity overworks the muscles, tendons and bone tissue.

Symptoms

If you have shin splints, you might notice the following:

• Tenderness
• Soreness
• Pain along the inner side of your shinbone and mild swelling in your lower leg.

At first, the pain might stop when you stop exercising. Eventually, however, the pain can be continuous and might progress to a stress reaction or stress fracture.

Causes

Shin splints happen when you’ve put too much stress on your leg.

You’re more likely to get shin splints if:

• You have started exercising after not being active for some time
• You run or jump on hard surfaces
• You do not have a good running technique

Treatment

They often heal on their own. If you see a doctor, expect to get a thorough physical exam. They may want to watch you run to look for problems. They might also take X-rays or bone scans to look for fractures.

1. Rest your body. It needs time to heal.
Ice your shin to ease pain and swelling. Do it for 20-30 minutes every 3 to 4 hours for 2 to 3 days, or until the pain is gone.
2. Use insoles or orthotics for your shoes. Shoe inserts — which can be custom-made or bought off the shelf — may help if your arches collapse or flatten when you stand up.
3. Take anti-inflammatory painkillers, if you need them. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin, will help with pain and swelling. These drugs can have side effects, though, like a greater chance of bleeding and ulcers. Use them as directed on the label, unless your doctor says otherwise.