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Medial tibial stress syndrome is a common overuse injury in the leg of runners or athletes who run a lot, especially on the road or other hard surfaces. Previously it used to be called ‘shin splints’, named after a common condition of the shin of horses.  The condition is an inflammation of the soft tissue sheath around the bone and adjacent structures.

The most common cause of the problem is a combination of poor foot biomechanics, poor running shoes, poor training regime and tight muscles. Poor foot biomechanics includes things like feet that roll inwards or turns outwards at the ankle joint or an arch that collapses too much. Inadequate running shoes usually includes things like a running shoe that is not supportive around the rearfoot and midfoot areas and is not very flexible in the forefoot area of the foot. A poor training routine usually includes things like doing too much training too soon, when they really should have been building up slowly. The other common contributing factor is calf muscles that are too tight.

The initial symptom of medial tibial stress syndrome is pain along the inside edge of the shin bone or leg. The first symptoms are usually mild enough so they do not interfere with the running routine. If any of the causative factors are not addressed, then it usually gets progressively worse until it does affect the running program. Medial tibial stress syndrome may be a precursor for a stress fracture.

The treatment for medial tibial stress syndrome in runners is to initiate some activity modification like cutting back on the amount of running and maybe substituting some other activity like cycling or swimming and then building up slowly back to the original amount of running. The faulty foot biomechanics is usually addressed with good foot orthotics or foot supports. Running shoe advice needs to be given so they get the most appropriate shoes for their style of running. Calf muscles stretches needs to be initiated to deal with the calf muscle tightness and the runners needs to be counselled as to the most appropriate training routine techniques.

Podiatry Arena has the latest information on medial tibial stress syndrome.