We have recently had a few runners come through the clinic in Red Hill experiencing Shin Splints. This usually occurs due to a strain of the muscles that attach to your shin bone. The most common muscles involved are the soleus, posterior tibialis, and the flexor digitorum longus muscles. These muscles help stabilise the leg and foot whilst running and aid you in pushing off or away from the ground whilst running.

Shin splints usually occur after some sort of activity, this can be due to an overload in exercise, by increasing frequency, or the number of days you are training, the duration, or even the ground pattern you are training on.

Pain can feel razor sharp and occur during or after exercise, aggravated by touch.

Factors contributing to shin splints are:

• Tightness in calf muscles
• Weakness of some of your muscles
• A quick change in intensity or the amount of time you are training
• Shoes that are an incorrect fit for you
• Running on too hard a surface or uneven ground and hills.
• The way you walk / foot type
• Incorrect Loading

Treatment would include:

• Rest
• Ice
• Compression
• Elevation
• Rehab Exercises
• Change of Footwear
• Inserts into your shoes
• Rarely surgery

Should you have any further questions please reach out to us at ProHealth Podiatry Red Hill or Mount Gravatt on (07) 3076 7306 or info@prohealthpodiatry.com.au