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| Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention, Complications |
A shin splint is pain in the shinbone or tibia, the large bone along the front of the lower leg. This condition is caused by activities or sports that continuously put pressure on the shinbone and surrounding tissue.
The medical term for a shin splint is medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS). Generally, shin splints can be relieved with rest and simple therapy. However, in certain cases, pain in the shin can last for a long time, even causing a fracture.
Causes and risk factors for shin splints
A shin splint occurs as a result of continuous pressure on the shinbone and the muscles and tissues around it. This pressure causes the muscles around the shin to swell, causing pain and inflammation.
There are several factors that can increase a person's risk of developing a shin splint, namely:
- Doing exercises or exercising with the wrong technique
- Wearing inappropriate or uncomfortable shoes while on the move
- Sudden increase in duration, frequency, or intensity of physical activity
- Running on downhill roads, hard, sloping or uneven surfaces
- Suffering from foot deformities, such as flat feet or high arches
- Suffering from muscle weakness in the thighs or buttocks, eating disorders, vitamin D deficiency, or osteoporosis
- Work as a soldier, athlete, dancer, or other profession that involves a lot of stress on the leg muscles
Symptoms of a shin splint
A common symptom of a shin splint is pain in the lower leg which may be accompanied by mild swelling. Some of the characteristics of pain in shin splints are:
- Pain is felt inside or at the front of the shinbone
- Pain that comes and goes with activity, but can continue or get worse even after the activity is stopped
- Pain in the shins can be accompanied by complaints of numbness, weakness, or pain in the leg muscles
When to go to the doctor
Check with your doctor if the pain in your shin doesn't go away even after resting, taking pain medication, or compressing the painful area with an ice pack.
Immediately see a doctor if the pain is unbearable, especially if you have previously fallen or been in an accident. Examination by a doctor also needs to be done if the shin looks swollen or feels hot.
Diagnosis of shin splint
The doctor will ask the patient's symptoms and the activities the patient did before the pain appeared. After that, the doctor will perform a physical examination of the patient's legs, including seeing how the patient moves his legs and walks.
Furthermore, to get an accurate diagnosis, the doctor will perform supporting examinations, such as X-rays or MRI. This test is done to rule out the possibility of shin pain caused by other conditions, such as:
- Fracture
- Compartment syndrome
- Muscle or tendon injury
- Tendinitis
Dry Bone Splint Treatment
Pain in the shin usually subsides after the patient stops activities or sports that put pressure on the shin. Generally, doctors will advise patients to rest for 2 weeks and do a number of self-therapy as follows:
- Compress the painful area using an ice pack for 15-20 minutes. Do this 4–8 times a day for a few days to relieve pain and swelling.
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, to relieve pain and inflammation.
- Use a compression splint or bandage to support the shin and reduce pressure on the shin.
- Raise your legs higher when lying down.
After the pain subsides, physical activity can be resumed, but it should be done gradually. Before completely recovering, the patient is not allowed to do physical activity for a long time or do strenuous exercise.
If the pain recurs when you start exercising again, stop the activity immediately and see a doctor.
In the case of a shin splint that causes severe pain and lasts for several months, the doctor will recommend a surgical fasciotomy procedure. This procedure is performed by opening a small amount of tissue covering the organ (fascia) around the calf muscle to relieve pressure.
Complications of the shin splint
Severe, untreated shin splints can lead to leg fractures. This condition can be recognized by the appearance of severe pain in the legs, bruising, and changes in the shape of the legs.
Prevention of shin splints
There are several ways that can be done to reduce the risk of a shin splint, namely:
- Warm up and stretch before exercising.
- Do exercises to make your leg muscles strong and stable, and gradually increase the time and intensity of your workout.
- Do a variety of exercises to avoid trauma due to excessive use of certain muscles.
- Use the right shoes when exercising and replace them when they are worn out.
- Use a foot support, especially for those who have flat feet.
- Avoid excessive exercise and exercise, and don't exercise on uneven ground.
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