What are Shin Splints?
Shin splints, also referred to as medial tibial stress syndrome or tibial pain syndrome, is a term for pain in the front or inner part of the lower leg. Shin splints are one of the most common sports injuries and can develop in everyone from recreational runners to high school soccer, basketball and tennis players.
Shin splints can involve inflamed muscles, tendons, and the thin layer of tissue that covers the bone. Although painful enough to knock you to the sidelines for a while, most cases of shin splints can be effectively treated conservatively with ice, rest, compression socks, and wearing shoes and/or orthotics that provide support for your feet, lower legs and ankles to minimize the constant pulling on her tibial bone.
Questions to be Answered on Your First Visit
-Is it your biomechanics of foot?
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Is it the fascia or muscles?
-Is it the way you run or walk?
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Is it your footwear?
-Are there exercises or things YOU can do to feel better?
Dr. Plutchok’s Approach is Different
No Drugs, No Surgery, No Night Splints, No Cortizone Shots
Dr. Plutchok uses 3 unique techniques to help relieve you of any pain you may currently be experiencing: Active Release Technique, Quantum Neurology Rehabilitation, and Functional Hallux Rehabilitation
More on Plantar Shin Splints
Shin splints happen when constant pounding and stress are placed on the bones, muscles, and joints of the lower leg. The result is irritation and inflammation, both of which cause pain. Factors that contribute to shin splints include:
Running downhill
When you run downhill, your foot impacts the ground in a way that your toes are pointing down. This puts additional stress on the muscles on the front of your shin, rather than distributing weight evenly through your foot.
Sudden increase in training
Anytime you increase trainging frequency, duration, or intensity more than than 10 percent a week, there is a risk of injury, including shin splints.
Old shoes
As your running shoes wear down, the arch support tends to flatten out, impairing their ability to properly absorb shock. Both shoe problems, combined with flat feet, poor running mechanics, and overuse aggravate the tissues of the lower leg.
Exercising on hard surfaces
This places extra stress on the leg, which can cause inflammation.
Failure to treat a previous bout of shin splints
Returning to normal training too soon is a common problem among athletes and can easily cause a setback.
Flat feet, rigid arches, and over-pronation
These mechanical malfunctions can cause pressure to be distributed unevenly on the lower legs. Many people naturally have flat feet and rigid arches and over-pronation, a condition where the ankles roll inward upon impact, and while they are painful, they can be corrected by easily by orthotics and a weight distribution analysis.