What Are Shin Splints?
Shin splints—medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS)—are characterized by pain along the inner edge of the shinbone (tibia) caused by inflammation of the muscles, tendons, and bone tissue due to repetitive stress.
Causes of Shin Splints
- Sudden increases in training intensity or volume, especially in running or jumping sports
- Running on hard or uneven surfaces (concrete, asphalt, trails)
- Improper footwear or worn-out shoes lacking support
- Flat arches, high arches, or overpronation, causing biomechanical stress
- Tight or weak calf muscles create an imbalance in the lower leg
- High BMI or overweight conditions increase the load on the lower legs
Symptoms of Shin Splints
- Dull, aching pain along the front or inner shin, often worsening at the start of exercise and lessening as activity continues, though it may persist after activity
- Tenderness when pressing on the medial tibia
- Mild swelling in the lower legs and possible tightness in the calf muscles
- Pain initially subsides with rest, but can become constant if treatment is delayed
How Gonstead Chiropractic Can Help
1. Restoring Full-Body Alignment
Gonstead chiropractic focuses on correcting spinal and joint misalignments (subluxations) that may alter biomechanical forces and lead to abnormal stress on the lower legs. Proper alignment improves weight-bearing distribution and reduces excessive loading of the tibia and related structures.
2. Relieving Pain Through Precise Adjustments
By targeting vertebral, pelvic, knee, ankle, and foot misalignments, Gonstead practitioners utilize hands-on adjustments to restore proper joint motion and reduce biomechanical stress, helping to relieve shin pain without medication.
3. Improving Nerve and Muscle Function
Proper spinal alignment helps remove interference that may affect nerves supplying the lower leg muscles. This can improve muscle function and proprioception, supporting recovery and helping prevent reinjury.
4. Supporting Healing Without Drugs
Gonstead chiropractic provides a drug‑free method for managing shin splint pain. Adjustments, possibly combined with orthotics or soft-tissue work, promote natural healing while avoiding side effects from pain medications.
5. Supplementing with Rehab, Orthotics & Lifestyle Guidance
Chiropractors often recommend corrective exercises, stretching, strengthening routines, and footwear or orthotic modifications to address the biomechanical causes of shin splints and support longer‑term resilience.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Symptoms, causes, and prevention strategies for shin splints
- Bhusari et al. (2023, PMC): Review of MTSS pathophysiology, risk factors, and prevention strategies
- Blogging Chiropractors – “How Chiropractic Can Help You Overcome Shin Splints” (Gonstead-focused explanation)
- Blogging Chiros – “Why Shin Splint Sufferers Should Consider Chiropractic” (pain reduction, alignment, rehab focus)