Lower Leg (Calves & Shins)
Shin Splints
Shin splints, or medial tibial stress syndrome, are a common exercise-related condition characterized by pain along or just behind the shins. Pain occurs about two-thirds of the way down the leg below the knee, spans several inches, and tends to worsen with activity. This discomfort results from inflammation of the thin layer of tissue covering the tibia, as well as from the bone itself and two of the muscles that attach to it (the soleus muscle and flexor digitorum longus, which help you push off your foot and flex your toes). Shin splints are common in people who begin a new training regimen after a period of inactivity. They may also occur when intensifying an existing training regimen. Contributing factors include running speed and distance, exercising on angled or very hard surfaces, and footwear with weak support or worn soles. Runners, aerobic dancers and military personnel are prone to shin splints because of the stresses placed on their lower legs, as are people with flat feet, rigid arches and "knock knees" or "bow legs."
Precision Muscle Recovery employs structural integration and corrective exercise techniques to alleviate the pain associated with shin splints, thereby reducing their occurrences.
Stress Fractures
Stress fractures are overuse injuries in which small cracks or breaks form in a bone. They occur when muscles lose their ability to absorb shocks. The excess energy then transfers to the bone, which cracks under the pressure. As one of the body's most weight-bearing bones, the tibia (shin bone) is highly susceptible. Stress fractures of the tibia are very common, especially in people who play sports that involve running or jumping, such as tennis, track and field, gymnastics and basketball. Women are more likely have them than men. They tend to occur to people who begin exercising after a period of inactivity, increase the intensity or length of their training, play on a hard surface, or use poor equipment such as worn-out shoes. You may be more likely to suffer a stress fracture if your bones or muscles are already weakened by osteoporosis or another underlying medical condition. People who have had one stress fracture are at increased risk of having another in the future. Symptoms of a stress fracture in the tibia include pain on the shin that worsens with weight-bearing or repetitive use. Many stress fractures are too small to be detected on an X-ray. In most cases, fractures heal on their own with rest. However, more severe fractures may cause bone displacement and require treatment to ensure that the bone heals properly.
See your doctor if you suspect you may be suffering from stress fractures, then schedule an appointment with Precision Muscle Recovery to speak to one of our practitioners about how corrective exercise can help you.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call Precision Muscle Recovery at 480.755.5065.