Shin splints—or what the running doctors call tibial stress syndrome—are one of the most common injuries for new runners. That’s because they’re usually caused by muscle and tendon weakness in the front or inside of the lower leg. With more running, these areas become strong enough to handle the increased stress they’re being subjected to. Weak arches can also lead to shin splints by making the shin muscles work extra hard to raise your arches when you run. Shin splints can lead to stress fractures, so you want to beat them before they beat you.
Shin splints are tiny tears of the front lower leg muscles away from the shin bone (or tibia). At first, you might notice a pulling or vague aching sensation in the area after you run. The pain can become sharp, usually after you’ve run for a certain amount of time. The area around the shin may become inflamed, or lumps may form where the muscle tries to reattach itself.
I don’t mean to sound like a broken record here, but the best immediate treatment for shin splints is the standard: ice, anti-inflammatories, and cutting back on your mileage. And another thing I keep harping on: Run on soft surfaces whenever possible. Shin splints are one of those injuries that people sensitive to running’s pounding get; that’s why beginners, who haven’t built up as much resistance to pounding, get them much more frequently than long-timers. So reduce that pounding by running on more forgiving ground.
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