Shin splints
Shin splints are injuries over the frontal aspect of the lower leg. It is not a disease by itself, but a combination of symptoms for which there may be number of reasons.
It is an aftereffect of an inflammation of the periosteum (covering of the bone) of the lower limb (tibia) or due to injury to the posterior peroneal tendon along with adjacent musculature. According to sports medicine, shin splints occur due to overuse of the lower limb.
The pain in shin splints characteristically occurs to the frontal aspect of the shin bone (tibia) area. The pain usually comes during the initial phase of exercise and gradually reduces as the person goes on doing exercise. In the beginning, the pain is dull aching in its nature. But after some time, with continuing inflammatory process, it becomes so intense, that the affected person is forced to stop doing exercise. There may be swelling over the same area in advanced cases of shin splint.
The first and foremost thing to do in a case of shin splints is to stop doing any kind of exercise. You can apply ice over the area to reduce pain, but never massage the area. Stretching of the muscles of the lower limb is also helpful. You may try putting some shock absorbing insoles inside your shoe. Oral anti inflamatory pain killer medicine is prescribed in resistant cases.
Tags: , cause of shin splints, injury to tibia, shin splint, shin splints, Sports, treating shin splints