Shin Splints Injuries
Shin splints can be a painful and debilitating condition. Here, we will examine shin splint injuries and the treatment that is most often used to treat this condition.
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Identification
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Shin splints injuries are diagnosed when inflammation occurs on the sheath that surrounds the bone on the lower leg. This produces pain in the lower half of the leg that can be accompanied by swelling. Other symptoms that are most common in shin splints are a lumpy feeling in the muscle on the shin bone, redness on the skin, pain that occurs at the onset of exercise and lasts long after exercise is finished.
Treatment
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Shin splint injuries are most commonly treated with ice in the early acute phase to help reduce pain and swelling, stretching exercises and rest. After the initial acute phase, heat therapy may be best for pain control. Non-weight-bearing exercises are best in this stage, such as swimming or cycling. If pain persists, then it may be necessary to seek treatment from a physician. Anti-inflammatory medications are often used to help reduce inflammation and provide pain relief.
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Causes
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Shin splints are often caused by tight muscles in the lower portions of the leg. Stretching before exercise can often help remedy this. When exercising, especially when running on hard surfaces, it is essential to have good, quality footwear. When running, it is often best to run on softer surfaces like sand or grass to lessen the shock absorbed by the legs during exercise.
Prevention/Solution
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Shin splints often reoccur, even after rest and medication. It is important to stretch the leg muscles before exercise, wear good shoes while exercising and avoid increasing intensity and duration of exercise too quickly.
Considerations
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Shin splints can be very painful and often require treatment. It may be necessary to obtain X-rays or an MRI to rule out a possible stress fracture. Most professionals recommend that you wait until symptoms have resolved before resuming exercise. It may be necessary to modify the exercise program with non-weight-bearing exercises and stretching. Even though shins splints are considered an overuse injury, it is possible to resume to normal activities after treatment.
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