The Pain May Be Familiar, But What Exactly are Shin Splints?
Whether we are running, jumping, playing sports, or even just walking around the mall, our legs are exposed to some of the harshest stress out of any other parts of the body. The bones and muscles in the legs are extremely vulnerable and due to the fact that these body parts are responsible for every single standing movement we make, it is understandable that there are numerous problems that can arise within the legs.
One of the more common musculoskeletal problems that we experience in the legs is a condition called shin splints. This painful condition is characterized by sharp pain localized within the middle of the lower leg, right where the distance between the twisting tibia and fibula is the greatest. Much of the stress that is placed on the lower legs is channeled into the knee and into the ankles but over time, this stress spreads down from the knee and up from the ankle right to the intersection in the shin.
The causes of shin splints are often misunderstood. Many people think that when they get shin splints, there is a problem within the shin itself that is leading to the pain and discomfort. In actuality, the occurrence of shin splints is not actually a problem within the shin itself, but it is related to tightness or strain in the muscles surrounding this area, mainly the calf muscle. Sure there are instances in which shin splints are caused by an actual stress fracture in the tibia or fibula, but these events are actually quite rare. When the calf muscles tighten up, there is often a change in the layout of the legs internally, which can throw everything off kilter and the pain travels across the leg and into the front.
With the help of a chiropractor, we can figure out the best possible alignment for our bodies and avoid shin splints altogether. Tightness or structural incompetence in the calf muscle can be occurring due to misalignments in the lower back, which then project misalignment all throughout the lower half of our bodies. A chiropractic adjustment can get our legs back on track so our favorite physical activities are not painful.
Used under Creative Commons Licensing courtesy of Nick Harris