SHin Splints
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The term 'Shin splints' is a generic term used to describe pain over the front of the lower leg. Generally it is pain over the front of the tibia. This can be caused from the muscle, the bone or the attachment from the muscle to the bone, or a combination of the two. Shin splints are caused in sprinting, most commonly in adolescence (as they are growing) by overuse. The overuse of the calf muscles irritates the tendons and the attachment of the tendons to the bones. This is formally called Medial tibial stress syndrome, as 'shin splints' are most common in the tibia. There are 4 grades for shin splints these range generally in weeks of the use i.e. Grade 1; 2-3 weeks, Grade 2-3; 6-7 weeks and Grade 4; 9-10 weeks +. People generally do not, recognise they have shin splints till they are a few weeks into the injury. If an athlete continues to train on this injury without adaptation to their training methods, they will most likely end up with a stress fracture (Grade IV).
Classifications;
Shin Splints can be classified as both soft and hard tissue injuries, in the later stages of shin splints the injury become hard tissue as they develop into fractures. There are 4 classifications for Shin splints (Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome), they are;
Ref; http://cdn.intechopen.com/pdfs/28466/InTech-Tibial_stress_injuries_aetiology_classification_biomechanics_and_the_failure_of_bone.pdf
Classifications;
Shin Splints can be classified as both soft and hard tissue injuries, in the later stages of shin splints the injury become hard tissue as they develop into fractures. There are 4 classifications for Shin splints (Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome), they are;
- Grade I Shin Splints (Minor); Periosteal tenderness at the distal 1/3-1/2 of the anteromedial tibial surface. Requires firm palpation with thumb.
- Grade II Shin Splints (Mild);Tenderness as above. Requires less firm palpation with thumb & may have linear tenderness along the posteromedial tibial border.
- Grade III Shin Splints (Major); Tenderness as above. Requires less firm palpation and may have linear tenderness as above. May have subcutaneous anteromedial tibial oedema.
- Grade IV Shin Splints (Severe); Tenderness as above. Requires less firm palpation and may have linear tenderness as above. A discrete region of maximal tenderness/thickening (early callus formation) over the fracture site will be palpable. Obvious tibial subcutaneous oedema is usually present.
Ref; http://cdn.intechopen.com/pdfs/28466/InTech-Tibial_stress_injuries_aetiology_classification_biomechanics_and_the_failure_of_bone.pdf