Patient education: Shin splints (The Basics)

What are shin splints? — "Shin splints" is a term people use to describe a pain they get in their shins when they exercise. The medical term for shin splints is "medial tibial stress syndrome." Even though shin splints hurt a lot, they are not usually anything to worry about.

What are the symptoms of shin splints? — The main symptom is pain along the front of the leg, below the knee and along the shinbone (figure 1). This pain usually starts during or after intense exercise, such as running.

Will I need tests? — Probably not. If you do see a doctor, they will probably be able to tell what is wrong by talking to you, doing an exam, and asking you to do certain things with your leg. If the doctor suspects that you have a broken bone, they might send you for an X-ray or another imaging test. Imaging tests create pictures of the inside of the body.

How are shin splints treated? — Treatment involves:

●Rest – If you are a runner, you should either stop running or reduce the number of miles you run until your symptoms improve or go away. While you wait, you can try another type of exercise that doesn't stress your shins, such as swimming or riding an exercise bike.

●Elevation – Prop the affected leg up on pillows or a chair when you are resting.

●Ice – Put a cold gel pack, bag of ice, or bag of frozen vegetables on your shin every 1 to 2 hours, for 15 minutes each time. Put a thin towel between the ice (or other cold object) and your skin. You can do this for several days while the pain gets better.

●Take a pain-relieving medicine – If you need it, take an over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (sample brand names: Aleve, Naprosyn).

Can shin splints be prevented? — You might be able to reduce your chances of getting shin splints if you:

●Wear shoes with extra cushioning.

●Increase the amount of exercise gradually, for example, building up your running distance over time.

●Run on softer surfaces.

When should I call the doctor? — Call for advice if you think that there is any chance you have broken a bone. This is more likely if you fell or had an injury.

Some runners can get "stress fractures." This means that they break a bone just by exercising or running too hard over a long time. Stress fractures feel different from shin splints. The pain becomes much more intense and usually affects 1 specific spot. If you think that you might have a stress fracture, it's important to see a doctor to find out for sure, so you can get proper treatment.

More on this topic

Patient education: Lower leg fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Exercise and movement (The Basics)

Patient education: Exercise (Beyond the Basics)