Shin
Splints
This condition is a
repetitive motion injury that causes inflammation in the muscles
on the inside or outside of the large shin bone (tibia). This
inflammation is caused by the inability of these muscles to fully
recover before being asked to perform again. If this condition
isn't managed correctly, the likelihood is very good for an athlete
to suffer with a stress fracture. Therefore, symptoms of pain
in the front of the shins should never be ignored. Also, for athletes
in the early to late teens, these symptoms are much more common
and have been related to the growing process. Treatment consists
of:
- Reduce activity
during acute phase. Look to cross train.
- Icing the base of
the foot multiple times per day (frozen ice in a Dixie cup)
- Using gentle thumb
massage over entire shin muscle multiple times per day with
gentle stretching with The Maggs
Muscle Management ProgramTM.
- If available, ultra-sound
treatment.
- Rehab
Plus will help to reduce inflammation naturally, while
also encouraging an accelerated recovery. Calcium/Magnesium
will provide much needed minerals for improved contraction and
relaxation of the muscle.
- Once inflammation
is gone, begin strengthening exercises drawing big toe upwards
with very mild weights (1-2 pounds to start) and very few reps.
- Evaluate foot-type,
and make sure proper shoes are being worn. Consider custom orthotics
if necessary.
- Consider a Structural
Fingerprint Exam for locating and detecting biomechanical
defects.
