When do shin splints hurt

Overview The term "shin splints" refers to pain along the shin bone tibia — the large bone in the front of your lower leg. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Shin splints. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Accessed June 30, Shin splints. Merck Manual Professional Version. Callahan LR. Overview of running injuries of the lower extremity.

Safran MR, et al. The symptoms of shin splints may look like other conditions or medical problems. Always talk with your healthcare provider for a diagnosis. Your healthcare provider can most often diagnose shin splints by reviewing your medical history and doing a physical exam.

X-rays are often needed. The best course of treatment for shin splints is to stop any activity that's causing the pain until the injury is healed. Other treatment may include:. You may be able to prevent shin splints by wearing good fitting athletic shoes.

Also, gradually increase the intensity, duration, and frequency of a new exercise routine. It may also help to switch between high impact activities and low impact activities such as swimming or cycling.

Health Home Conditions and Diseases. What are shin splints? This pain concentrates in the lower leg between the knee and ankle. Your doctor may refer to the condition as medial tibial stress syndrome MTSS. Shin splints frequently affect people who engage in moderate to heavy physical activity. You may be more likely to develop shin splints if you participate in strenuous physical activities or stop-start sports such as tennis, racquetball, soccer, or basketball.

Shin splints is a cumulative stress disorder. Repeated pounding and stress on the bones, muscles , and joints of the lower legs prevents your body from being able to naturally repair and restore itself. The pain associated with shin splints results from excessive amounts of force on the shin bone and the tissues attaching the shin bone to the muscles surrounding it.

The excessive force causes the muscles to swell and increases the pressure against the bone, leading to pain and inflammation. Shin splints can also result from stress reactions to bone fractures. The constant pounding can cause minute cracks in the bones of the leg. The body can repair the cracks if given time to rest. Various activities and physical attributes can put you at risk of getting shin splints. Risk factors include:. Shin splints are also more likely to occur when your leg muscles and tendons are tired.

Women, people with flat feet or rigid arches, athletes, military recruits, and dancers all have an increased likelihood of developing shin splints. Your doctor will usually be able to diagnose shin splints during a physical exam.

Doctors may prescribe diagnostic tests such as imaging scans and X-rays if they suspect that you might be suffering from bone fractures or a condition other than shin splints. Shin splints normally require that you take a break from certain physical activities and give your legs time to rest.

The discomfort will usually resolve completely in a few hours or at most in a few days with rest and limited activity. The suggested amount of downtime is typically about two weeks.