From the SAYSO Trainer’s Notebook
Your child comes home and announces that one or both of his/her shins “hurts all over when I walk or run.” There’s not a mark, bruise, or scratch to be seen. It’s probably shin splints.
“Shin splints” is a general term is used to describe pain on the inner side of the middle third of the shin bone. The shinbone is the attachment site for muscles used to help raise the arch of the foot. Insufficient arch support or too-tight calf muscles strains these arch-raising muscles and the attached tendons, causing mild to sharp pain.
Shin splints can be caused by running or jumping on hard surfaces, wearing worn-out shoes, or increasing the intensity of training too quickly. Soccer players sometimes get shin splints between seasons, when they change their fitness programs to and from grass, pavement/sidewalk, and dirt trails. A change in footwear (to a shoe that requires a slightly different stance) can also bring on shin splints.
Wearing good shoes with solid arch support often solves the problem. Other ways to prevent and treat shin splints include cross training, orthotics, and strengthening and stretching of lower leg muscles.
Treatment follows the RICE approach. Ice the shins frequently to reduce pain. (Icing before stretching will let you achieve a better stretch.) Anti-inflammatories (e.g., common pain relievers) are essential. Players may sleep with their shins wrapped in a 4-inch Ace elastic bandage. Some authorities report that the shins may be taped, though this is not a common treatment.
Running or playing with shin splints is not harmful. Most athletes learn to run “through it.”