SHIN SPLINTS

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Shin splints

Lower leg muscles

SYMPTOM CHECKER

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Leg pain
Shin splints
Stress fractures

What to expect at your health care provider's office

The health care provider will perform a physical examination and take a medical history.

Medical history questions may include:

• Time pattern
  • When did the pain start?
  • Is it present all of the time?
• Quality
  • Describe the pain.
  • Is it a sharp pain?
• Location
  • Are both legs affected?
  • Where exactly on the leg is the pain?
• Aggravating factors
  • Have you recently begun exercising?
  • Have you recently increased the amount that you exercise?
  • Have you recently changed the type of exercise that you do?
• Relieving factors
  • What have you done for the pain?
  • How well did it work?
• Other: What other symptoms do you have?

The physical examination may include an examination of the legs.

Home treatment will be prescribed for any of the different types of shin splints. Surgery may be needed in rare cases when shin splints caused by an anterior compartment syndrome do not go away over time.

The pressure can be relieved by splitting the tough, fibrous tissue that surrounds the muscles. Surgery may also be necessary for stress fractures that do not heal.

References

Carr K, Sevetson E, Aukerman D. Clinical inquiries. How can you help athletes prevent and treat shin splints? J Fam Pract. 2008;57:406-408.

Reviewer Info: Andrew L. Chen, MD, MS, Orthopedist, The Alpine Clinic, Littleton, NH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., 07/17/2008