Causes: In general, shin splints in runners are caused by overstretching, and improper or excessive use. Shin splints are caused by repetitive stress to the tibial muscle, such as that caused by running on concrete or on a track. Shin splints usually occur in beginner runners because they have not yet adapted to the stress of running on hard surfaces. In addition to the running surface, shin splints can be caused by improper stretching, another reason why they are common in beginning runners. Furthermore, overtraining is a huge contributing factor to injuries of the tibial muscle. If a runner has pain in the shin, and continues to train hard, this pain will only grow. Also, an imbalance between the anterior and posterior muscle groups in the legs can put stress on the shins and cause injury.

Treatment: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation apply to this injury, and if done correctly should heal shin splints. The best way to get rid of persistent shin splints is simply to rest the muscles and give them time to heal. A decrease in both duration and frequency of running is needed in order to heal shin splints. However, rest will not fully cure shin splints if one returns to their regular running routine a few weeks after inactivity. In order to make sure shin splints do not return, a runner must slowly get back into their running schedule so as not to bring on the pain again. Other treatments for shin splints include massage, stretching, and the use of anti-inflammatory medicine to decrease both inflammation and pain.

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