Stop Shin Splints

Don’t let this common high-impact injury throw you offyour fitness game

- Kristin Mahoney

SHIN SPLINTS ARE among the most frequent injuries to sideline runners—especially those who are just starting out or returning to the sport after a long layoff. But runners aren’t the only ones to feel the pain. Any activity that involves jumping (think: plyometrics, HIIT workouts, CrossFit, etc.) can cause shin splints. Here’s what’s really happening and how to keep your legs feeling strong and healthy.

WHAT’S A SHIN SPLINT?

“Shin splints usually occur following repetitive trauma to the connective muscle tissue surrounding the tibia, or shinbone,” says John Gallucci Jr., D.P.T., president of JAG Physical Therapy in New Jersey. “This muscle breaks down and becomes inflamed. During the healing process, it forms scar tissue where one of the calf muscles adheres to the tibia, causing pain and tightness.”

WHAT’S IT FEEL LIKE?

If you are experiencing a dull, achy pain on the inside or front of your shin that worsens with activity after a warmup or lingers after a workout, you may have shin splints. In more severe cases, the dull pain may start to feel like a stabbing sensation.

WHY DOES IT HAPPEN?