Shin Splints Treatment & Recovery Plan
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SHIN SPLINTS TREATMENT & RECOVERY PLAN

Are you suffering from Shin Splints?
Check out Muscle Labs Recovery page and learn more about your injury, our treatment methods and preventative measures to take for next time around.

TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR YOUR SHIN SPLINTS:

STEP 1:

TREATMENT ASSESMENT

The main purpose of this recovery plan is to assess your injury and analyze what treatments best aid your injury. Through this assessment you'll explain your injury to a Muscle Lab therapist, providing them with adequate information on the duration of your injury, persistence of the injury and the type of pain you're experiencing.

Generally with shin splints the therapist will analyze movement and range of motion of the affected area to better understand the severity of the issue.

STEP 2:

COMPRESSION

Our Normatec compression Boots are an effective first step to treating shin splints and aiding the area. Normatec compression therapy increased blood circulation within the legs to promote healing of the muscles. This increase in circulation flushes out any lactic acid build up stored within your muscles from intensive training or past injuries.

Come rest your legs with a 30 minute Compression session and let the healing process begin!

STEP 3:

LOCAL CRYOTHERAPY

Cold Therapy is a well known tool when trying to aid the effects of shin splints! Our Localized Cryotherapy treatment directly targets the issue at hand. The use of liquid nitrogen allows the cold therapy to penetrate the muscle past the epidermal layer and reduce any inflammation thats triggering tightness or pain.

A local cryo session lasts 10 minutes at a temperature of nearly -300 degrees. This process is a quick and effective part of your recovery journey. Its many benefits for shin splints include reducing the throbbing and aching feeling you experience when running by cooling the area, as well as promote healing of the muscle fibers themselves.

STEP 4:

SCRAPING

Scraping is an ancient form of holistic healing, this technique is a wonderful option for anyone suffering from any shin splint induced symptoms. Scraping therapy utilizes a rounded tool that is applied vigorously on the muscle in order to break down scar tissue, reduce tension in the muscles and improve flexibility within the treated area. This Process of scraping facilitates the healing process by increasing blood circulation in areas that were once stiff and inflamed.

Scraping is a highly recommended treatment option for someone suffering from shin splint tension. You may experience a bruising affect from the repetitive movement of the tool but thats how we know its working! The benefit of this treatment is the quickness of it, you wont need down time after a session and movement is encouraged!

STEP 5:

STRENGTH AND BALANCE TRAINING

Strength and balancing treatments are some of the most effective preventative measures you can take when aiding your body. The goal is to stabilize and align the foot and ankle to take stress off the lower leg and relieve some of the pain of shin splints. Strengthen and stabilize legs, ankles, hips, core for high impact allows the body to reduce the pressure put directly onto the shins when active.

The purpose of these treatments with our Muscle lab Trainers is to educate you in your injury. This process alone gives you the tools needed to prevent a repeat injury.

SHIN SPLINTS

WHAT ARE SHIN SPLINTS?


Shin splints are also known as medial tibial stress syndrome. It is a common exercise-related problem where the muscles, tendons, and bone tissue surrounding the tibia or lower leg become inflamed. Pin point pain is commonly identified along the inner edge of the shin bone (tibia). Active individuals who make sudden changes in their training routines- with intensity, frequency, and duration- are the most as risk for developing shin splints. Increasing the number of days you exercise each week, changing the typical time spent doing each work out, running longer distances, and the surface in which you are performing activity (cement, turf, grass, uphill, downhill) all contribute to the load absorbed by the low leg during your exercise routine.

SYMPTOMS


Shin splints are classified as pain along the front of the lower leg muscles. Shin splint pain is commonly described as an intense throbbing and aching sensation that may be felt before exercise and increases after an intense workout or run. There may be mild swelling in the area that can be aggravated by touching the sore spots.

CAUSES


When there is an increased amount of stress to the muscles surrounding the shin bone, the connective tissue may become inflamed and cause pain. Common risk factors associated with shin pain include flat feet, improper footwear, lack of warm up or cool down stretches, and weak ankle, hips, and core stability. Shin splints develop after the lower legs are overworked and continuing repetitive activities as such can increase injury beyond medial tibial stress syndrome and lead to stress fractures.

FLAT FEET


Shin splints occur if a person naturally has flat feet, the arch at the bottom of the foot is stretched and therefore lacks in elasticity and its ability to absorb shock. The impact from each step will make the foot's arch collapse, also known as over pronation which puts more stress and cause micro-tears in the muscle at the front of the shin. Orthotics can be customized for those with flat feet or recurrent problems with shin splints.

SHOES


Support ,support, support! It is important to note the type of shoes that are worn during activity as it can contribute to increased pain in the lower leg. Proper running shoes are made to provide good support and absorb the body weight impact with each step. The bottom of the shoes may become worn down and overused after running so many miles or training in improper footwear. For long distance runners it is important to select a shoe with a wide base of support and thick heel support for shock absorption. If the training shoes are fairly new and not worn down, purchasing insoles would be an effective solution for shin splints to provide support to the arches as well.

STRETCH


Incorporating a proper stretching routine both before and after exercise is critical to prevent shin splints. It is important to warm up thoroughly before exercise and introduce gradual increases to training.

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