SHIN PAIN
Do you experience a dull, aching pain along the inside of your lower leg during or after exercise? You might be dealing with shin splints, medically known as Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS)—a common overuse injury we treat at Leading Edge Podiatry.
What Is MTSS?
Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS) is an overloading injury that causes pain along the inner edge of the shinbone (tibia), typically in the lower third of the leg. It’s often triggered by repetitive stress from activities like running, jumping, or walking—especially if training intensity increases too quickly.
The pain occurs when the muscles and bones in the lower leg can’t recover quickly enough from repetitive strain, leading to inflammation and microtrauma.
What Does Shin Splint Pain Feel Like?
Symptoms vary between individuals, but common signs of MTSS include:
- Dull, aching pain along the lower inner shin
- Pain that worsens during or after activity, such as running or walking
- Initially subsides with rest but may persist if untreated
- Tenderness to touch along the shinbone
- Stiffness or tightness in the lower leg muscles
- In more advanced cases, pain may occur even at rest
What Causes MTSS?
Shin splints are typically caused by bone stress reactions, where the load on your lower leg exceeds the ability of your bones and muscles to cope.
Contributing factors include:
- Sudden increase in training intensity, frequency, or duration
- Improper running technique or poor biomechanics
- Weak muscles, especially calves, glutes, hamstrings, or quads
- Overpronation (inward foot rolling) or flat feet
- Worn-out or inappropriate footwear
- Low bone mineral density or higher BMI
- Hard running surfaces like bitumen or concrete
How We Treat Shin Pain (MTSS)
Our treatment plan is tailored to your individual biomechanics, activity level, and severity of symptoms. We use a four-phase approach to help you return to pain-free activity.
1. Pain Management & Load Reduction
We start by modifying the factors that contribute to overload:
- Adjusting your training: reduce intensity, frequency, or switch to low-impact cross-training
- Gait retraining: improve stride width and cadence
- Footwear assessment and recommendations
- Custom orthotics to reduce load and correct biomechanical issues
- Surface changes if training on hard ground
2. Manual Therapy
To aid recovery and reduce inflammation, we may recommend:
3. Targeted Strengthening Program
We develop a strengthening plan focused on:
- Soleus and gastrocnemius (calf muscles)
- Gluteal muscles
- Other lower limb stabilisers to reduce strain on the tibia
4. Progressive Bone Loading
A gradual increase in loading activity is used to promote bone strength and prepare your legs for a safe return to sport or full activity.
❓ Still have questions about shin pain?
Visit our Shin Pain FAQ page. Our Shin Pain FAQs provide clear answers to the most common questions.
Let’s Get You Back on Your Feet
If you think you’re dealing with shin splints, don’t push through the pain. The earlier you get the right treatment, the quicker and safer your recovery.
👉 Book Online Now
📞 Or call us on 08 7120 6063 to speak with our experienced podiatry team
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