Benefits of Spotting Shin Splints Symptoms Early
Being able to spot shin splints symptoms early is of great benefit in limiting the damage caused by this painful form of tendonitis. Shin splints affects two tendons in the shins; the anterior tibial tendon and the posterior tendon, with the former being the most common location of the injury. The condition affects mainly runners, joggers and active exercisers, and usually strikes midway through a run, or immediately afterwards. As with many muscle and tendon problems, the pain may not be severe at first, and people tend to try to run off the problem, but in the case of shin splints this can make the problem far worse.
Shin splints symptoms start with a little discomfort in the shins, but the problem progresses and can become quite painful. However it is after exercise that the pain often becomes more intense, and is quite commonly accompanied by swelling and sometimes redness in the affected area. By this time however, the damage has been done, and had exercise been stopped when pain first stuck, the damage would have been limited. Spotting shin splints symptoms early is therefore of great benefit in preventing further damage from being sustained.
When the shin pain strikes, it is important to stop exercise and apply RICE therapy as the primary treatment. RICE stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation, and it is a common treatment for muscle problems. Whilst many people think that heat packs are beneficial, this can actually make the problem far worse. Ice causes the blood vessels to constrict, and reduces inflammation and swelling, whilst also acting as a pain reliever. Heat on the other hand increases inflammation, and can make the pain far worse. Both compression and elevation will help to reduce the swelling from fluid build up, and these treatments may well be sufficient in themselves to treat shin splints effectively, certainly if applied soon after the flare up of pain.
In cases where shin splints have been allowed to deteriorate, or when the damage sustained initially is severe, a more comprehensive treatment program is required. Whilst recovery can take a few days to around two weeks, in severe cases it can take months to heal properly. Also, once the pain and swelling has abated, it does not mean that the problem has totally gone away, and exercise should be limited for around two weeks minimum. Using compression devices and muscles and tendon taping can help to prevent further damage, and will facilitate the work that the tendons are required to perform.
Since shin splints is caused by overuse or overstraining of the tendons it is important to build up strength and stamina in these tendons afterwards. Stretching exercises before and after exercise is of paramount importance to prevent sudden activity from causing further damage. Strengthening exercises are just as important, as the development of the condition in the first place may well have been due to weakness in the tendons. Building up stamina will help to keep the condition at bay.
Where tendon weakness is not the cause, many runners find that it is a gait abnormality which was the trigger. Excessive rolling of the feet; termed overpronation, is often the reason. When the feet roll excessively inward throughout the stride, they place a greater strain on the tendons in the shins. Similarly, fallen or collapsed arches also contribute to shin splints, with the posterior tibial tendon responsible for holding up the arch. When the arches have fallen, the tendon is already under extra strain.
Finding out the cause of the problem is vital, as once shin splints has struck, the chances of developing shin splints again becomes much more likely.
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