If you are suffering from Shin Splint-like symptoms, it is recommended that you contact PEAK to have one of our Podiatry, Physiotherapy or Chiropractic Practitioners conduct a thorough assessment and diagnosis.

As listed above, a combination of training errors and biomechanical factors play a role in the development of Shin Splints. A thorough training history, with particular focus on recent changes, is required to help guide any training modifications that may be required.

In the physical assessment, palpation of the painful area is an important diagnostic factor, particularly along the medial border of the shin. Your Practitioner will also assess your lower limb muscle strength and function, particularly around the hip, knee and ankle regions to determine whether these are contributing to your symptoms. Research indicates that muscular weakness can lead to early fatigue and contribute to poor loading patterns along the tibia.

Additionally, as running is such a popular sport and cause of Shin Splints, a thorough Running Assessment is highly recommended. Subtle technique changes and cues can change how force is transferred through the affected area, and assist with minimising pain and preventing recurrence.

Finally, a Podiatrist  can assess the suitability of your footwear based on your foot posture, foot muscle function and training modality (ie. road vs trail running). Changing the type of footwear or adding orthotics can help to offload the painful areas and aid the recovery process. Furthermore, alternating between multiple pairs of running shoes can help to maintain the shoe’s structural integrity.

It is important to rule out more sinister diagnoses which may present similarly to shin splints – the most common being a stress fracture. Stress fractures are a progression of shin splints whereby the bone begins to develop small cracks. Stress fractures tend to present with pain at rest, night pain and very specific points of tenderness. If you are experiencing these symptoms your PEAK practitioner may recommend a bone scan or MRI to exclude this diagnosis.

Orthotics for Shin Splints

If any biomechanical abnormalities are identified in the physical assessment, your PEAK practitioner may recommend the use of orthotics. Orthotics can provide support to specific areas of the foot, thus offloading the muscles while they begin to heal, as well as provide cushioning where required.

Massage for Shin Splints

Soft tissue techniques such as Massage, Trigger Point Therapy or Active Release Technique (ART) can also be effective for relieving Shin Splint pain. These techniques provide benefit by reducing muscle tension of your shin muscles which relieves the amount of pull or strain they exert on the bone. Furthermore, blood flow to the area is increased, allowing the muscles to relax and healing to occur. The type of soft tissue mobilisation used will depend on the location and severity of your symptoms.

Dry Needling for Shin Splints

Dry Needling is another treatment technique that can be beneficial for Shin Splints. Dry Needling specific locations along the affected muscles helps to relieve muscle tension via a twitch response, and promote blood flow and nutrient circulation to these regions. It is normal to experience a short-term increase in discomfort following a Dry Needling treatment.

Shin Splint Exercises

Exercise therapy is a key component of Shin Splints rehabilitation and prevention. As research shows that lower limb muscle weakness and dysfunction contributes to the development of Shin Splints, a comprehensive exercise program targeting these is key. Your practitioner will design an exercise program which addresses the key impairments identified in the physical assessment. Stronger lower limb muscles will minimise the amount of force which travels through the joints/bones of the leg. Similarly, by improving your function and biomechanics, the load may be distributed throughout the leg in a more efficient way, thus offloading the painful area.