Health & Wellness Magazine HealthQuest Winter 2019 | Page 12

SHIN SPLINTS
Shin Splints
BY: BRENDAN WALSH, C. PED (C)
MEDIAL TIBIAL stress syndrome, more
commonly known as shin splints, is an
exercise- or activity-induced pain in the
anterior portion of the lower leg. Most
commonly seen in runners, this syndrome
can be caused by both external and
internal factors.
External factors are things that are outside
of the body such as running on uneven
surfaces, running up or down hills, too
much training, or increasing training
intensity too quickly. One of the most
common external factors that causes
medial tibial stress syndrome is improper
footwear.
Internal factors have to do with things
inside the body such as improper
biomechanics, decreased flexibility,
previous injury, and decreased strength.
Improper footwear can mean a multitude
of things. First, it could be that your
running footwear is too old and that it
does not have the proper amount of
shock-absorbing capability left, causing
your body to absorb the pounding from
the ground. It could also mean that you
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are wearing shoes that do not offer the
right kind of support that your feet need.
Usually, there are two classifications of
running footwear: stability and neutral.
Stability shoes—such as Asics Gel-
Kayano, Saucony Omni, or Brooks
Beast—are shoes that are structured for
people that have a tendency to roll their
feet too much towards the middle of their
body, or over-pronate. Now, it is very
important to note that pronation is not
a bad thing. Everyone has to pronate in
order for their feet to function properly.
The problem with pronation arises when
it happens too much that it causes other
joints of the body to compensate or
perform actions they aren’t built to do.
The result is subsequent pain such as shin
splints.
Neutral shoes, on the other hand, are
structured for people that do not pronate
enough, or under-pronate. These people
usually use the outside of their feet when
walking or running and typically have
a very high arch. As a result, the rest of
the lower leg is tasked with attempting
to push the feet back towards the middle
of the body, causing excess strain.
Examples of neutral shoes include Asics
Gel-Nimbus, Saucony Echelon, and the
Brooks Glycerin.
Therefore, getting the proper pair of
footwear is one form of treatment for
shin splints. Other treatments include
foot orthotics, icing the affected area,
rest, or if rest is not an option, taping the
painful area with athletic tape. However,
it is important to note that even with
these treatments, if you are wearing the
wrong kind of footwear, the pain may
not subside. As shoes are the first contact
point with the ground, having something
that will provide the proper alignment,
cushion, and support is crucial to injury
prevention.
If you are experiencing shin splints or
have further questions regarding how to
prevent or treat them, a biomechanical
examination by a Canadian Certified
Pedorthist—in conjunction with
treatment from other healthcare
professionals such as physiotherapists
and massage therapists—is highly
recommended.