Shin splints

(Also known as Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS)

 Medial tibial stress syndrome is a common problem in running sports. Soccer players and runners are affected to equal degrees, especially when training on hard ground. Cases in point include when runners run on pavement and soccer or football players train on a hard pitch or clay court, but also on fields with synthetic turf. Training on firm and hard indoor floors can cause pain in the muscles of the lower leg. This often produces the classic shin splints, or lower leg pain affecting the muscles as well as the periosteum of the shinbone. Pain is often locally palpable at individual myofascial trigger points (muscle knots) in the periosteum or muscles. However, it is also possible for the muscles to be tense and painful overall. When considering the therapeutic options for shinbone pain, it is important to differentiate whether the problem is primarily related to the muscles or periosteum and to initiate treatment accordingly. It is paramount that the cause be identified. Improper weight-bearing, especially originating in the foot due to overpronation, often contributes to the pain experienced on the inside of the lower leg. This kind of pathological foot should be actively corrected by fitting the patient with a functional PROPRIO^® foot orthosis.