Shin splints (also known as tibial stress syndrome)

I was trying to think if there was a word to describe when a term used to for something is makes it so clear that you know just what the term means. That is not always the case with medical terms that we hear. At first I thought that it might be onomatopoeia but that isn’t right. (Onomatopoeia is when a word is formed from the sound associated with a thing like “quack” or “sizzle”.)

I guess there isn’t a term for what I was thinking about. I was wondering about this because I was thinking of shin splints.

Shin splints are one of those things that you just know what they are when they happen to you. Shin splints are usually a dull achy pain in the front of your leg. Your leg starts to hurt and when the pain starts, you know immediately that it is shin splints. I may not recognize what tibial stress syndrome is but shin splints feel like the name. Some people will feel shin splints while they are exercising, others will feel it after they after exercise.

Shin splints are most often caused by overuse. A sudden ramping up your workout can cause too much force on the bone and connective tissues. Also wearing shoes that do not give your foot enough support can cause shin splints.  Also shifting surfaces can cause the problem. Concrete is a hard surface that can often cause shin splints.

 The most common cause of shin splints is overuse. Athletes, dancers, and runners experience the problem more often. Runners and dancers are prone to have shin splints because of the repetitive motions that they use. Athletes who do a lot of rapid starting and stopping like basketball, soccer, and tennis can also suffer from shin splints. It can happen to even a non-intense weekend warrior who exercises in worn out shoes. People with flat feet also have a tendency toward shin splints. 

The first thing to do is to stop the activity until the leg feels better. The area should be allowed to heal. If you are in pain when you are resting, you can try putting ice on the area for 20 minutes several times a day. You can take an anti-inflammatory drug like ibuprofen, naproxen or aspirin. Please follow the directions for the use of these drugs. Also, do not take them if you are drug sensitive to them.

If after a day or two you are still in pain, it is time to see your friendly local podiatrist. The doctor will examine the area and perhaps order an x ray to make sure that you do not have a stress fracture in your tibia. The doctor can also work with you to make sure that you do not have this happen again. If you are a runner, you should bring your shoes to the appointment. Have the doctor look at your feet in the shoes to check to see if they are the best shoes for you.  It may be that you need orthotics to help prevent you from having shin splints.

As with all pain while you are exercising, stop and take a break. The faster you react to a problem, the faster you will be back up on your feet and back at it.  Pain is your body’s way of telling you there is a problem that you should pay attention to.

Your Pal,

The Foot Blogger Chick

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