symptoms

Shin splints, pain on the tibia

Shin splints, pain on the tibia / symptoms

Pain on the tibia

Shin splints often occur as a result of heavy exercise stress. Usually the symptoms disappear by themselves if the leg is spared for a while. However, shin splints should not be taken lightly because the symptoms may also be due to a serious condition. For example, pain in the tibia occurs in inflammation of the tendons, muscles or tibia. Not infrequently there are also accidents due to fractures in the region of the tibia, some of which must be surgically treated.


contents

  • Pain on the tibia
  • symptoms
  • Shin splints
  • Periostitis
  • osteomyelitis
  • Tendonitis
  • fractures
  • Bottleneck syndrome
  • compartment syndrome
  • Other causes
  • Risk factors and prevention
  • diagnosis
  • Anatomy of the tibia
  • treatment
  • Naturopathic treatment for tibia pain
  • Exercises to strengthen the muscles in the tibial area

symptoms

Shin splints often occur as a result of overloading. Many runners know the complaints too well. This usually shows drawing pain below the kneecap or a pulling Belasungsschmerz extending along the tibia.

Sliding pain often occurs when there is excessive stress. Especially in untrained people can quickly show pain in this area. But excessive training can cause symptoms here as well. (Image: Dirima / fotolia.com)

Shin splints

The so-called tibial nerve syndrome is pain that usually occurs as a result of sports activities such as running or football, which stress the shin and foot muscles. In professional circles, the syndrome is often not seen as an independent disease, but rather as a symptom with many possible causes. As a trigger, among other things, the overuse of the muscles is discussed.

This affects above all untrained people who start with sports. But even trained athletes may suffer from tibiasis syndrome, for example, when the footwear is changed or sufferers gain weight. The muscles around the tibia may be irritated and inflamed. Patients sometimes have to adapt to a longer tibial nerve syndrome therapy.

Periostitis

The periosteum of the tibia may also be affected by inflammation. A so-called periostitis can sometimes be very tedious and painful. These are possible triggers of inflammation:

  • overload,
  • wrong footwear,
  • changed training conditions,
  • Change of training type,
  • over-tired muscles,
  • wrong training,
  • external stimuli such as punches or kicks,
  • Pathogens such as bacteria or viruses.

osteomyelitis

In osteomyelitis, the bone marrow is inflamed. Often, however, all parts of the bone are affected by the inflammation. Then one speaks of Osteitis (bone inflammation). Both bone marrow and bone inflammation usually occur as a result of open fractures or operations involving contamination with pathogens. Affected then suffer partly from severe tibia pain.

Tendonitis

Another cause of tibial discomfort may be tendonitis (tendovaginitis) at the insertion site of the tibial musculature. Patients should protect the leg until healing, to avoid chronic tendonitis.

Tibia pain can also be a sign of a fracture. Significant swelling, pain on appearance and malalignment of the lower leg indicate a fracture. (Image: Ralf Geithe / fotolia.com)

fractures

Accidentally, it can also lead to fractures of the tibia, which are associated with movement and spontaneous pain, a significant swelling and a loss of function of the leg. Often a malposition of the lower leg is recognizable. In principle, fractures can occur at any point on the tibia. Frequently, the tibial head or the hind leg of the tibia on the upper ankle joint (Volkmann injury) are affected. In addition, the shin shaft, for example, break as a result of traffic accidents.

Even with athletes this injury is not uncommon. Often, this is a fatigue fracture that results from a permanent overload of the bone. In addition, another underlying disease may be the cause of a shin fracture. In osteoporosis or rheumatoid arthritis, the bone can be so severely attacked that it becomes porous and eventually breaks.

Bottleneck syndrome

Shin splints can also be caused by muscle pinching, jamming and nerve slippage (constriction syndrome). In the lower leg there is little space between the individual muscles. That's why leg swellings quickly become noticeable and quickly lead to discomfort.

compartment syndrome

A special cause of the complaints is the so-called compartment syndrome, which can arise as a result of bone fractures. An increased tissue pressure in the so-called muscle lodges leads to reduced blood flow and, if therapy is not given, to permanent damage to the blood vessels, muscles and nerves. Thick calves may be a first indication of the syndrome.

A special position occupies the functional compartment syndrome, which affects athletes. While in acute compartment syndrome the tissue has to be relieved immediately in order to prevent consequential damage, the symptoms of functional compartment syndrome subsided during rest alone.

Other causes

In addition, other causes of tibia pain in question. These include, for example:

  • Skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis,
  • tumors,
  • neurological diseases,
  • Circulatory disorders,
  • lengthy intake of cortisone,
  • Parathyroid hyperfunction (hyperparathyroidism),
  • Deficiency symptoms, for example, when diets are too strict,
  • Menopause or menstrual cycle in women.
In many cases, pain in the tibia disappears after a few days with proper relief. If this is not the case, the cause should be examined by a doctor. (Image: Narong Jongsirikul / fotolia.com)

Risk factors and prevention

Pain on the tibia is often the result of overuse or untrained muscles. Regular strengthening exercises for the lower leg muscles, frequent barefoot running and toes contribute to the strengthening of the tibial musculature. Runners should pay attention to suitable footwear and the right running technique, as often overloading leads to the discomfort that may arise, for example, by the Vorfußlaufen. In addition, moderate training on soft forest floors prevents pain in the tibia. Further preventive measures are:

  • Train in moderation and do not go beyond the load limit.
  • Insert regular days off.
  • Get in slowly after a workout break.
  • Run a treadmill analysis when buying running shoes.
  • Balance the misalignment of the feet with suitable inserts.

diagnosis

The pain can have many causes. That's why it's important to make an accurate diagnosis. First, the patient's medical history (anamnesis) is used. There are questions about pre-existing conditions such as rheumatism and previous accidents. The tibia is closely examined and the lower leg is checked for movement restrictions, hyper-mobility and bone deformities. In this way, for example, a shin fracture is often immediately recognizable. In examinations, complaints such as numbness of the legs, backache or buttocks should be reported to the doctor or therapist. Further diagnostic options are:

  • X-ray examinations,
  • Blood tests to determine inflammation,
  • Sonographies (ultrasound examinations),
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI),
  • neurological and electrophysiological examinations.

Anatomy of the tibia

Shin splints are painful complaints in the area of ​​the lower leg, the tibia. Fibula and tibia together form the bony part of the lower leg. The shin bone is triangular in shape. Towards the knee, it widens to the tibial bone and is also part of the knee joint. Towards the ankle, the tibia widens and forms a substantial portion of the surface of the upper ankle and the inner ankle. Certain knee pain and ankle pain are therefore partly counted as discomfort on the tibia.

The picture shows the bone structure of the tibia. (Image: PIC4U / fotolia.com)

treatment

Shin pain usually disappears by itself if the leg is spared for a while and exposed to stressful sports. If this is not the case, therapy will be required, usually based on the cause.

Therapy for inflammatory causes

In inflammation such as tendonitis, anti-inflammatory analgesics are given. Often also ointments are used. A temporary protection of the lower leg is usually unavoidable. In severe or chronic cases, this may result in temporary immobilization with a special bandage, plaster cast or plaster cast. Cold or heat therapy and physiotherapy may also be useful depending on the cause. In rare cases surgery is performed on chronic tendonitis.

Therapy of fractures or acute compartment syndrome

Fractures of the tibia may require surgery in which the fracture is done by means of screws, nails and plates. Mostly then follows the immobilization of the lower leg. Even in acute compartment syndrome conservative measures are not sufficient. The depressed muscles, nerves and blood vessels must then be surgically relieved.

Naturopathic treatment for tibia pain

Tibia pain that is not based on disease or injury is often attributed to a functional cause. In such cases, the symptoms can often be successfully treated by naturopathic and alternative medical procedures. It is important to see the lower leg in relation to the entire leg and foot. Both the gait and running image as well as the footwear are included in the analysis. This is the case with the concept of bodywork after the biochemist dr. Ida Rolf (Rolfing) or Osteopathy the case. Unusual burdens and tensions are identified and treated. The course of the nerves is examined up to the pelvis for possible disconnections.

Exercises to strengthen the muscles in the tibial area

These exercises can be incorporated into training sessions to strengthen the muscles around the tibia, especially as untrained individuals quickly experience pain in this area when under stress. A trained muscle can help prevent shin pain. However, it is important to avoid excessive training as this can also be a trigger of tibia pain. If the muscle hurts or shows symptoms of fatigue, the training should be stopped and followed by a suitable resting phase.

Ausfallschriitte

  1. Stand upright and tense abdominal muscles.
  2. The feet have the distance of a hip width.
  3. Take a big step forward and breathe in.
  4. Keep the crotch position short, the knee should not point over the toe.
  5. Press again with the front leg and return to the starting position, exhaling.
  6. Repeat exercise with the other leg.
The picture shows point four of the lunge exercise. (Image: DDRockstar / fotolia.com)

squats

  1. Stand upright and tense abdominal muscles.
  2. Place your feet slightly above a hip width at a distance.
  3. Tiptoe points slightly outwards.
  4. The legs bend as if to sit on a chair edge.
  5. Do not fall below a knee angle of 90 degrees.
  6. Keep your back straight and your knees should not reach over your toe.
  7. Hold briefly, then return to the starting position.
So point four should look like the squat exercise. (Image: bnenin / fotolia.com)

Toe Stand

  1. Hip-wide stand with not very slightly bent knees,
  2. Tense stomach and buttocks,
  3. lift both hoes off the ground,
  4. keep on tiptoe for a few seconds,
  5. Slowly set the heels down again,
  6. Repeat exercise as often as you like.
The photo shows point four of the Toe Stand Exercise. (Image: Jonas Glaubitz / fotolia.com)

Bow toes

  1. Stand barefoot upright,
  2. Tighten foot muscles,
  3. pull all toes towards the heels as if you were wearing too small a shoe,
  4. The toes but do not move, but lie flat on the ground,
  5. Relax muscles and repeat exercise as often as you like.

(ag, vb updated on June 11)