Read further to see what could be causing the pain and how the doctors at IHS can help!
This post will cover:
- Common causes of shin pain
- What treatment typically looks like for these symptoms
What is a “shin splint”?
A true shin splint is referred to as medial tibial stress syndrome. This is the result of periostitis in which impacting the ground (running, jogging, jumping, etc.) could cause the muscles to pull on the periosteum or the outer bone covering, causing pain.
What else could be mimicking these symptoms?
- Posterior tibial tendinosis. This is medial pain due to irritation of a muscle called your posterior tibialis. This particular muscle wraps under the arch of the foot to 5th metatarsal (pinky toe). This is the muscle that supports the arch of your foot.
If we are constantly pronating, it irritates the posterior tibialis tendon and muscle itself, leading to pain that could seem like shin splints.
- Sensitization of saphenous nerve (a branch that comes off of your sciatic nerve). Sensitizing means that the nerve is trying to tell us we are doing too much with “okay” mechanics or just the right amount with poor mechanics.
The end result of sensitizing is pain.
Causes can be trying to do too much activity too soon, or overstriding.
- Anterior shin splints – posterior chain is not effectively executing the slow down phase.
What can the doctors at IHS do for treatment?
- Acupuncture Dry Needling – This treatment is able to instil microdamage to the areas of pain. As a result, this triggers the brain to send to natural biological healing processes to the area and repair the damaged tissue with fresh tissue.
- Added Bonus! Tens units will be attached to the filaments. This reduces the pain signal to the brain – helping to relieve your symptoms.
- Soft Tissue Therapy – Performing soft tissue treatment passively as well as with active range of motion will help reduce tension in the affected muscles.
- Adjustment – Keeping the joints related mobile will allow for healthy, full range of motion.
- Dynamic Rehab – Each visit will introduce new rehab exercises that empower the patient to reduce symptoms and also prevent recurrence.
Content provided by Dr. Jen Brenneisen
