Shin pain in runners; how should this be treated? - Charschan Chiropractic in North Brunswick, NJ and Scotch Plains, NJ

Shin pain in runners; how should this be treated?

Shin pain is a common complaint we hear from runners. While the idea that shin splints may be the condition, a persons body style and running adaptations to their own body mechanics may be the reason for the pain.

Shin pain is caused by impact. Asymmetries in our gait can cause us to under and over stride which affects core functions, tightens the lateral fascia in the legs and reduces shock absorption from the ground up.

The end result is shin pain which can lead to stress reactions and stress fractures with training.

Understanding why your shin hurts often requires more than orthotics, rest or physical treatment. Sometimes, a treadmill evaluation can show us form problems resulting in the pain. Bad habits or adaptations are hard to change, but a treadmill evaluation from your chiropractor may be a good adjunct to a thorough evaluation of the painful region.

I came across this handy guide that offers some advice on how to manage shin pain in runners. It covers the common conditions and reasons you may be in pain. On the other hand, a good chiropractic sports physician will take a holistic approach to your problem and help you help yourself.

Runner’s shin pain: What, why and how to treat
by Matt Bergin January 15, 2019

Physiotherapist (and Irish international) Matt Bergin talks us through the dreaded world of shin pain. Starting with what happens, why it happens and finishing with how to treat it.

A week rarely goes by where I don’t get someone telling me they have shin splints. It is one of the most common injury related phrases heard in the running world, so you would think it is fairly well understood, but often this isn’t the case.

This isn’t just something I see in those new to running either. I see it across the board. From people just starting out at parkrun all the way through to the elites. So what actually is shin splints?

The term ‘shin splints’ isn’t so much a diagnosis, rather a part of one of four conditions affecting the medial shin area, most commonly. Shin pain can be broken down into four general categories; muscular, bony, neural and vascular.