In today’s FAQ video, we answer the question “What is the best way to relieve shin splints?” Watch below to hear the expert physical therapists at Carter Physiotherapy explain how to treat shin pain. Leave any questions you may have in the comments section below.
If you are dealing with shin splints and would like to know how we can help, call or text us at (512) 693-8849.
What Is The Best Way To Treat Shin Splints?
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Video Transcription
[Please excuse grammatical errors due to the conversational nature of the video]:
What’s the best way to relieve shin splints? That’s a loaded question. That’s a tricky one. But shin splints can be the result of a lot of different things. They could happen on both sides. You can have them on the inside and/or outside of the shin bone.
For our runners, it’s really important for us to take a look at their running forms to make sure that’s not contributing. A lot of really good aggressive soft tissue work on shin splints can make a dramatic impact. Additionally some really good exercise prescription can be able to support that kind of work.
Like you said, there’s so many things that can actually cause shin splints. Many injuries coming through the door are very straightforward. It’s probably one or two, maybe three things that are the predisposing factor that causes the injury or perpetuates it. With shin splints, it’s crazy. It’s like the big toe might not be moving right. You might be weak in your hip flexors so you’re overusing the muscles in the front of the shin.
Poor running shoes is a big thing that I see. So it’s like pronation. Some people really figure out that there’s more than one piece that’s why it’s important to look at everything rather than just “Oh, it’s just your shoes.”
Treatment approach
And that’s another reason why going somewhere where they’re not rushing from patient to patient every 15 minutes is important …There are so many things that you need to identify to make sure you’re not missing any key components or you can end up with a really chronic stubborn scenario.”
