Therapy For Shin Pain In Runners Using Running Shoe Insoles
Shin Splints refers to a painful condition in the front leg area below the knee caused by damage to the posterior peroneal tendon. The resulting soreness arises in the front or inside section of the tibia. In many cases, shin pain in athletes is a product of intense physical activity like jumping, running or playing active sports; shin pain in athletes is a condition that can often take a long time to heal.
Common Symptoms of Shin Splints
Common shin splint symptoms include inflammation and/or soreness around the shin area, particularly after running, walking, or participating in sports activities. The pain typically presents itself at the beginning of the workout, then lessens slightly, and reappears when settling into rest. It is common for shin pain to occur in people who have just started to get involved in running, walking, or sports activities.
What Causes Shin Splints?
The main cause of shin pain in athletes is undue stretching of the muscles and tendons that run along the shin bones (tibia and fibula). Excessive use of these muscles by runners and other athletes is the most common reason for this condition. Other causes for shin pain in athletes can also be due to overuse of the anterior tibialis muscle in the front of the leg, along the outside front of the shin bones.
Excessive pronation of the feet is often a significant contributor to shin pain in athletes. Excessive pronation causes internal tibial rotation and intensifies the tractional forces on the ligaments and muscles in the lower leg.
Treating Shin Pain
For the short term, rest is required to help alleviate shin pain in athletes. Running and other strenuous activities should be minimized until the condition is controlled. Shin splints can frequently be prevented by going through a warm-up period before strong physical activity. It is important for athletes and runners to gradually increase their level of activity, and always go through a proper warm-up before abrupt or excessive exercise. Changing your running style to reduce stride length and softening your heel strike can also reduce shin splints in the long term.
Using suitable footwear is also an effective way to prevent and reduce the effect of shin splints, particularly for runners who strike heavily with the heel. It is important that running shoes with proper rear foot stability be used whenever possible. Additionally, insoles for sports are useful by helping to correct excessive pronation and cushioning the heels, thus reducing the impact while assisting with heel stability.
In general, athletes and runners need to continuously practice proper foot health care in order to stay in top performance shape.
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