How Shin Splints Work

When a typically pleasant run turns into a painful chore, shin splints could be the cause of your trouble. Shin splints — less commonly known as medial tibial stress syndrome — occur when accumulated stress injures the inside (medial) part of your tibia (shinbone). There isn’t much padding on your shinbone, but there is a thin layer of tissue surrounding the tibia called the periosteum. It can become inflamed from the repeated pounding involved with running or other high-impact activities. The inflammation and resulting pain is what we know as shin splints.

Pain is the biggest symptom of shin splints, and it can set in during or after a workout. The level of discomfort can range from mild to so severe you don’t even want to walk. Shin splints can also be deceptive — they may be painful when you first begin your running session but seem to go away when the muscles warm up. Don’t be fooled: Continuing to run with shin splints can lead to further damage, such as a stress fracture. Stress fractures take much longer to heal and require professional treatment.

Jog on over to the next page to learn more about what causes shin splints.

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