How we can help Shin Splints

13/09/2017

 

Limp in Leap out Physiotherapy & Wellness in Belfield provides servicing to many near by Inner West suburbs including Belmore, Strathfield and Croydon park. See our weekly blog below if you are interested in new research, facts, general information or ideas. 

 

At Limp in Leap out Physiotherapy in Belfield, we can help your shin splints.

 

Do you suffer from pain at the front of your lower leg or above your ankle? Does it affect you while you are running? You may be suffering from shin splints.

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This is a condition that is triggered by activity increases and changes, such as increases in running distance and speed during workouts.

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Background: A protective sheath layer exists over the tibia bone (aka tenoperiosteum). When muscles that attach to your shin are repetitively pulled, the sheath can become inflamed and cause mircotears in chronic stages. 

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Some studies have shown calves with more endurance can help reduce onset of shin splints.

Running involves repetitive foot impact with the ground and can cause the leg muscles to tense. At times this force challenges the strength of the tibial structure (including bone and muscle) and highlighting the importance of stronger calves to compensate for this ground reaction force impact.

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A line of thought exists that the more endurance your calf muscles have, the less susceptible your shins are to experiencing shin splints.

 

A 2007 article investigated 2 groups of runners; those with and without shin splints. The article found those individuals without shin splints could complete more single leg calf raises (33 calf raises on average) then the group who were suffering from shin splints (23 calf raises on average).

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Reference: Madeley, L. T., Munteanu, S. E. & Bonanno, D. R. (2007). Endurance of the ankle joint plantar flexor muscles in athletes with medial tibial stress syndrome: a case control study. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 10, 356- 362.

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The above exercise needs to be completed in conjunction with a tailored physiotherapy treatment, involving soft tissue therapy etc. To find out more, or to book in for a consultation you can contact us via our Limp in Leap out Physiotherapy & Wellness contact page, or book online here.