Shin Splints

• “Shin Splints” is a term that encompasses a range of injury pathology including tendonitis, teno-synovitis, peri-ostitis, and myositis. 
  
  
• Enthesitis is the term used to describe a soft tissue inflammation at a site where muscle attaches to bone. 
  
  
• With respect to shin splints, this generally refers to the muscle’s origin.
  
  
• Anterior and posterior shin splints are defined by the musculature involved.
  
  
• The following muscles  - Tibialis anterior, Extensor digitorum longus and Extensor hallucis longus comprise the anterior group and likewise,Tibialis posterior, flexor digitorum longus and flexor hallucis longus relate to the posterior group.
  
  
• The patient will complain of tightness and pain that comes on with a specific activity and often settles promptly upon resting with a residual soreness on palpation of a specific area along the tibia and/or fibula which relates to the musculature involved.
  
  
• The intensity of the symptoms can range from a dull ache to intense pain.
  
  
• Factors commonly attributed to the cause are mechanical dysfunction including excessive pronation or supination, deficient training, and fatigue.
  
  
• Characteristics of the terrain including pitch and surface composition are often a factor in shin splints for both walking and running activities.

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