Shin and knee pain are common complaints among our patients. Often, the shin muscles imitate a knee problem, as the tibialis anterior, the common muscle involved in shin pain, extends on both sides of the kneecap. The person may experience pain in the knee or shin when walking, standing, and running, and may try numerous approaches and visit an orthopedic to determine the source of pain. This often results in unnecessary X-rays and other procedures, such as injections that address symptoms, and may actually make you hurt worse. My 26 years as the medical director for USATF NJ have helped me understand shin splints and their causes, and the common reason is impact. Some experts suggest that running itself will cause injuries, and while this is true, improving running style and body mechanics will reduce injuries. Common causes of shin pain, commonly called shin splint’s can include: Flat feet. Asymmetry in body build. Poor core function Bad running habits Poor choice of running or walking shoes. Old ankle injuries that have not been properly rehabbed. What begins from the ground up will cause adaptations as we grow that eventually result in pain while running. Some of us anatomically will require a certain type of shoes or inserts to reduce ground forces and improve our running style. The most frustrating thing is not knowing what is causing your problems. A sports chiropractor can be your best one-stop shop to prevent shin pain. This is because each of us is unique, and to understand the impact, a primary care approach that is holistic, meaning thorough, is the only way to understand the problem. Looking at it through the specialist for everything model is disjointed and ineffective because they may identify where you hurt, but you can avoid this by seeing a generalist, such as a chiropractic sports physician. What to expect on your first visit. Our visits begin with a thorough history of current and past problems. Then, we perform a thorough evaluation from the feet up to determine why you hurt. Often, shin pain is one of many symptoms that may also include foot and heel pain after hours of standing, an inability to stand for a long period of time without feeling uncomfortable. Previous back and neck problems may reveal underlying causes for the pain in your knees and shins. Squatting during the evaluation can help both of us better understand the knee and shin pain, as these problems are aggravated by it. If the problems are long-term, we may perform an X-ray to determine the health of the spinal joints, pelvis, and hip joints. As part of our evaluation, we always check foot type, shoe size and gait as these are clues as to why your shins and knees may hurt. Treatment begins the same day in most cases, and patients often feel improved after their initial visit. Foot asymmetries are usually addressed the same day with off-the-shelf foot orthotics we custom choose for you, depending on your type of foot and shoe. Typical visits include exercises, chiropractic manipulation of the spine and extremities, myofascial release, and Graston technique to improve how you move. Our treat-test-treat protocols improve our effectiveness post-treatment to make sure you function better than when you walked in. Need help today? Book online now.