Shin Pain

At a glance

Shin pain describes a variety of generalized pain that occurs in the front of the lower leg along the shin bone (tibia). It often occurs after repeated stress or jarring of the bones, muscles and joints without proper conditioning or recovery between workouts.

Depending on the type of trauma or injury, shin pain may come on gradually or suddenly. It usually develops in people w ho do repetitive activities and sports that put a great deal of stress on the lower legs, such as running, dancing, aerobics, gymnastics, football and hockey.

Shin pain is caused by trauma to either the muscles or bones of the lower leg. Muscle trauma is often related to overtraining. Repeated use makes the muscles swell and puts pressure on the layer of fibrous tissue that covers the muscles in the lower leg, thus leading to pressure and pain.

Bone trauma to the lower leg may result in stress fractures. Constant pounding the leg bones may cause microscopic cracks and fractures in the lower leg bones (tibia and fibula). Rest is needed to repair these cracks, but without adequate recovery, these cracks continue to grow and become a fracture. The result is acute pain and a long recovery.

The treatment of shin pain involves reducing pain and inflammation, identifying training and biomechanical problems which may have helped cause the injury initially, restoring muscles to their original condition, and gradually returning to training.