Shin Splints

The complete and more precise terminology for shin splints is medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS), in which the name simply identifies the condition. A repetitive stress causes an injury to the medial part of the tibia. This is an overuse injury and common in athletes who have forceful gait patterns, like runners, sprinters, figure skaters, and gymnasts. 

cause:  

The exact pathology is still unknown. The pain may be contributed to inflammation of periosteum or an avulsion of the periosteum of the medial distal tibia. The soleus, tibialis posterior and flexor digitorum longus muscles originate from the tibia. The forces transmitted through these muscles with chronic overuse results in periosteal reactive micro-tearing of Sharpey’s fibers (thread like processes of the periosteum woven together with the muscle and bone junction. MTSS may progress into a stress fracture if not treated properly. Contributing factors are varus hindfoot, excessive forefoot pronation, genu valgum, and external tibial torsion. 

CLINICAL SYMPTOMS: 

Patients experience point tenderness approximately 5 centimeters above the tip of the tibial malleolus and may experience a radiating pain along the medial po