That aching, burning pain along the inner edge of your shin can bring your running or training to a sudden halt. This common and frustrating issue is known as Shin Splints, or Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS). It restricts your ability to move comfortably and reduces your confidence with every step.
Sports therapy offers clear, actionable strategies to resolve the underlying problem. We focus on rebuilding the tolerance of your lower leg muscles and bones so you can return to confident, pain-free activity.
Shin Splints refers to pain that runs along the inner border of the tibia, or shin bone. This pain is caused by stress, where the muscles and connective tissue attach to the bone itself. It is often a reaction to repetitive impact and muscle pull.
MTSS is generally classified as a bone stress reaction. The constant strain causes the outer layer of the bone and the surrounding soft tissue to become irritated and painful. It is a sign that the load is too great for the bone to adapt to comfortably.
The pain usually feels like a dull ache at the start of exercise. It often worsens into a sharp pain as you continue, or after you stop running. Understanding this pain pattern helps guide the pace of your recovery.
Shin splints are primarily a problem of overload. They occur when the amount of impact placed on the lower leg exceeds its current capacity to cope. This is why training errors are the most common trigger.
A sudden increase in running mileage, speed, or frequency can overwhelm the bone and muscles. Switching from a softer surface to pavement, or changing to minimalist footwear too quickly, also contributes to this load increase.
This issue is amplified by repetitive impact. Every step sends a shockwave up the leg. If the lower leg muscles are not strong enough to absorb this shock effectively, the stress transfers directly to the bone, causing pain.
The health of your lower leg relies on balanced strength and flexibility. Tightness in the calf muscles, particularly the soleus, can place excessive pulling strain on the attachment points at the shin bone. This constant tension contributes significantly to MTSS pain.
Weakness in the muscles that stabilise the foot and ankle is also a factor. If these muscles lack endurance, the foot may over-pronate (roll inwards) excessively during impact. This uncontrolled movement puts unbalanced strain on the shin muscles.
Footwear plays a major role as well. Worn out shoes or trainers that lack proper support can increase the shock impact. Your therapist assesses both muscle strength and footwear to create a comprehensive solution.
Sports therapy provides a proactive approach, combining manual techniques with structured exercise. While rest is needed initially to let the painful area calm down, long-term recovery requires strengthening the leg’s resilience.
Manual techniques like Sports Massage (including Deep Tissue) are used extensively on the calf and shin muscles. This helps reduce the chronic tightness and pulling strain on the tibia. To accelerate tissue adaptation, we may use Shockwave Therapy or Ultrasound Therapy directly on the painful area.
For pain management, Acupuncture can target specific points along the shin. Cupping may be used on the calves to relieve deep muscular tension. We support the lower leg with Kinesiology Taping for enhanced stability during movement.
Crucially, all these methods complement a Tailored Rehab plan focused on strength and endurance, supported by advice on specific Supplements.
For persistent or chronic Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome, Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) can be used to target the painful attachment site along the medial border of the tibia. MTSS involves a reaction where the soft tissue pulls on the bone surface (periosteum).
The focused acoustic energy from ESWT is uniquely effective here because it creates a powerful mechanical stimulus that effectively down-regulates the local pain signals. It offers rapid relief from the constant ache and burning.
Critically, the shockwaves also initiate a healing response at the bone-muscle interface, increasing local blood perfusion and strengthening the bone’s protective outer layer. This helps the tibia adapt more robustly to the stresses of running and high-impact activity over time.
Managing shin pain requires making intelligent choices about how and when you train. We help athletes manage their training load carefully. This includes monitoring total mileage and ensuring gradual progression, especially when returning from a break.
We provide specific exercises that target the muscles responsible for stability and shock absorption. These exercises are initially low-impact and carefully managed to build endurance without causing irritation.
Your therapist will also offer practical advice on running technique and footwear choice. Simple adjustments to stride length or cadence can significantly reduce the impact forces that cause pain.
Shin splints can make you feel uncertain about every run or jump. But your lower legs are designed for resilience and powerful activity. They simply need the right strategy and support to regain their capacity.
Sports therapy provides the expertise to address the muscle tension, correct the imbalances, and guide the strengthening process. It is about returning to a place where running and training feel natural, strong, and pain-free. If shin pain is limiting your activity, let us help you move confidently again.
