What is it?
Shin splints cause pain along the inner edge of your shinbone (tibia). This condition is common in runners and people who do a lot of walking or jumping. It develops when the muscles, tendons, and bone tissue in the lower leg become overworked, often due to a sudden increase in activity.
What causes it?
Shin splints are usually caused by repetitive stress or impact to the lower leg. Common causes include:
- A rapid increase in running or training
- Flat feet or poor footwear
- Running on hard surfaces
- Muscle weakness or tightness in the lower leg
- Poor running technique or biomechanics
How it feels
- Dull, aching pain along the inside of the shinbone
- Pain during or after activity, especially running or jumping
- Tenderness or slight swelling along the shin
- In early stages, the pain may ease with rest; if it worsens, it may persist even at rest
How physiotherapy helps
Physiotherapists play a key role in managing and preventing shin splints. Treatment includes:
- Activity modification to reduce load on the shin
- Stretching and strengthening exercises—especially for calves, foot muscles, and hips
- Soft tissue massage and manual therapy to reduce tightness
- Taping or orthotics if poor foot mechanics are contributing
- Education on proper footwear, running technique, and safe training progression
Recovery
Most people recover well with proper physiotherapy and load management. Ignoring shin splints can sometimes lead to stress fractures, therefore early management is key.
