If you are an active person, you may have run into intense pain in your shins. This a common injury known as shin splints. Shin splints are not a serious injury, but they can be very debilitating to your workout routine or daily activities. If you are having trouble with shin splints, it is good to know what causes them so that you can be more aware of the catalyst of your injury. In this blog, we will go over what shin splints are and what causes them.

What Are Shin Splints? 

Shin splints are when muscles that run along the tibia (shin bone) become inflamed from small tears that develop from overuse. It is an extremely common injury among athletes and runners.

Symptoms of Shin Splints 

• Aching pain that extends down the front of the leg
• Shin muscles that are very tender and painful when touched
• Pain in the shins that gets worse with exercise
• Pain in the shins that goes away with rest

Causes of Shin Splints 

• Running: especially if you are a beginner that is starting a new running program
• Increase in intensity: if you have recently increased the frequency, duration, or intensity of your workout routine

• Uneven terrain: running on an uneven terrain like hills, or on harder surfaces like concrete

• Flat feet or high arches: having flat feet or high arches can put added stress on your shins

Let Us Help You 

A lot of the time, people choose to treat shin splints on their own with ice and pain relievers. But if your shin splints become more persistent, it may be best to visit a medical professional to see if there are other treatment options for you. If you are interested in learning more about what your options are for treating your shin splints, Orthopedic Associates of Long Island (OALI) is the perfect place to go. The teams at all of the OALI locations are full of experienced medical professionals that have extensive experience in the orthopedic field. They can provide you with world-class treatment and valuable insight into your injury. Contact us today at 631.689.6698 or visit us online at oali.com to schedule your appointment.