Shin splints is a very vague term used to describe an extensive range of pain that occurs along the front side of the lower leg bone (tibia). In other words, it’s a broad symptom, not a definitive diagnosis. This alone has caused a great deal of misconception and confusion. As the medical community has tried to add clarity, they’ve possibly made understanding shin splints more difficult in that there are now many more synonyms, each often as nonspecific as their predecessor:
medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) - tibial periostitis - tibial stress syndrome - tibial shin splints - medial tibial stress syndrome - medial tibial syndrome - posterior tibialis syndrome - soleus syndrome - tibial stress injury
In any event, the term "shin splints" is commonly used to refer to pain along the shinbone (tibia) from any number of causes.
Causes Of Shin Splints
The pain itself is the result of inflammation of the tendons (tendonitis), muscles, or connective tissues surrounding the tibia (periostitis) -or- stress fractures to the tibia itself. The inflammation or stress fracture may occur from a number of specific underlying causes, the most often of which is related to an overload or overstress of the affected anatomical structure. This overload is the often the result of bones, tendons, muscles, and such being stressed past their normal function on a repetitive basis.
Exercise activities and athletics are two areas that stress injuries are highly likely, especially if the physical exertion requires downhill or uneven surface running; movements with frequent or rapid starts and stops; or training that is too fast, too long, or too hard for the body to withstand.
Biomechanics, the study of how living creatures move, may also be a causative factor. The variances in mechanical functioning causing shin splints could be any of the following:
* flat feet
* foot pronation
* weakness or tightness in leg muscles
* high heeled or otherwise poor supporting shoes
* poor foot alignment
Symptoms Of Shin Splints
* pain in the front of the lower leg
* may be dull and achy
* may only be felt during exercise
* may only be felt after exercise
* may be constant upon motion
* may make motion very difficult
* may be located on either side of shin bone
* may be located in the muscles or structures behind the shin bone
* the front of the lower leg may be tender to touch
* may experience swelling in the lower leg
Strengthening Exercises
These Calf Exercises are ideal to build strength and flexibility.
Massage Treatment
These Calf Massage Techniques are of great value in pain relief; circulation stimulation; dispersing blood and fluid accumulations; swelling reduction; and relaxing muscle spasms, especially when used alongside the Sinew Therapeutics liniments and soaks.
ACUTE STAGE SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT
When there is swelling and inflammation in your calf.
ACUTE STAGE SYMPTOMS:
The acute stage starts the moment an injury occurs and lasts until the swelling and inflammation are gone. The swelling is the result of the blockage of blood, tissue fluids and circulation in the calf because their normal movement has been disrupted by the force of the injury. Just like cars back up behind a traffic jam, causing congestion, exhaust and overheating; blood and fluids back up behind the injured calf, causing pain, inflammation, lumps and swelling.
The sensation of heat is due to the warming action of the blood and fluids overheating in the injured calf as they back up and accumulate. Stiffness and decreased mobility are due to spasms in tendons and ligaments that have contracted reflexively beyond their normal range from the impact of the injury.
As ligaments and tendons stretch and tear, blood from ruptured blood vessels becomes trapped in the local tissues. As the trapped blood clots up, it sticks the tissues together creating adhesions. Adhesions cause pain, inflammation and restricted movement because the layers of tissue that used to slide smoothly across one another now adhere and snap which interferes with normal functioning. It is essential to break up clotted blood as quickly as possible to prevent adhesions and scar tissue from forming.
During the acute stage it is very important to restore normal circulation to the calf, break up clotted blood and stagnant fluids, reduce swelling, and reduce the redness and heat associated with inflammation. By restoring the flow of blood, fluids, and circulation in the calf, then pain is relieved, damaged tissues can regenerate with healthy functional tissue, and the calf can strengthen and regain it's mobility.
ACUTE STAGE TREATMENT:
1. Apply the Sinew Herbal Ice on your calf to reduce redness, swelling, and inflammation while dispersing accumulated blood and fluids to help restore normal circulation to the calf. This first-aid treatment is used in place of ice to significantly speed up the healing process. It reduces the swelling and inflammation more effectively than ice, allowing you to more quickly regain range of motion. Acute Sinew Liniment can be used in-between applications.
Ice is not recommended because it does not help repair damaged tissues and keeps everything in the injured area frozen, causing the stagnation of blood and fluids and the contraction of muscles, tendons and ligaments. In Chinese sports medicine ice is not used and is considered a culprit in injuries that don’t heal well.
2. Massage your calf with Acute Sinew Liniment to relieve pain, reduce swelling and inflammation, break up clotted blood and stagnant fluids, and stimulate circulation of blood and fluids to help cells quickly repair damaged tissues. Sinew Herbal Ice can be used in-between applications.
3. The Sinew Sports Massage Oil is recommended for use before and after exercise, sports and strenuous activity. It warms and stimulates your muscles, increases circulation and relieves tightness, hence improving your performance and helping to prevent injury.
CHRONIC STAGE SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT
When there is NO swelling and inflammation in your calf.
CHRONIC STAGE SYMPTOMS:
The chronic stage begins once the swelling and inflammation are gone, but you still feel aching pain and stiffness. This is because there are still accumulations of stagnant blood and fluids in your calf that are blocking circulation and blood supply to damaged tissues, creating residual pain, stiffness and weakness. You may actually feel hard nodules like sand in the tissue, indicating accumulation, calcification, and adhesions, which all cause pain, stiffness, and joint instability.
Your calf may feel more sensitive to the cold and ache in cold and damp weather due to impaired circulation. When you move your calf you may hear a clicking or popping sound from the tendons and ligaments slipping very slightly in and out of their natural alignment indicating weakness and joint instability, causing chronic pain and a cycle of reinjury. These symptoms are often the result of failure to treat the injury properly from the outset and overicing.
Increasing circulation and blood supply to the damaged tissues is very important in treating chronic injuries because tendons and ligaments do not have an extensive direct supply of blood. That is why chronic injuries can be slow to heal. Increasing local circulation also prevents cold and dampness from penetrating the injured area, preventing pain and stiffness.
During the chronic stage it is very important to break up remaining accumulations of blood and fluids, and increase circulation and blood supply to the damaged tissues. By increasing circulation and blood flow in the calf, then pain and stiffness is relieved, and the tendons and ligaments can strengthen to restore stability.
CHRONIC STAGE TREATMENT:
1. Massage your calf with Chronic Sinew Liniment to relieve pain and stiffness, strongly stimulate circulation and blood flow to damaged tissues, and promote the healing of overstretched tendons and ligaments. The Sinew Relaxing Soak can be used in-between applications.
2. Soak your calf with the Sinew Relaxing Soak to relax muscles and tendons that are in spasm, ease joint pain and stiffness, and improve range of motion. The Sinew Relaxing Soak is particularly useful if you feel restricted mobility in your calf. The soak can be used by saturating a towel in the liquid and applying it to your calf. Chronic Sinew Liniment can be used in-between applications.
3. The Sinew Sports Massage Oil is recommended for use before and after exercise, sports and strenuous activity. It warms and stimulates your muscles, increases circulation and relieves tightness, hence improving your performance and helping to prevent injury.
