Question

Briefly explain the following injury:

Shin Splint 

Discuss in detail about shin splint.

Answer 1

Shin splints are acute pain in the shin and lower legs or tibia bone. They are most often found in athletes who run for a longer duration. There are two types of shin splints: anterior and posterior. The more common one is posterior, which is technically referred to as medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS). MTSS is an inflammation of the tibialis posterior muscle that runs along the inside of the shin. The anterior shin splints are the inflammation of the tibialis anterior muscle which runs along the front and outside of the shin.

1. Causes
   1. Prolonged running on a hard surface.
   2. Having flat feet or abnormally rigid arc.
   3. Lack of calcium.
   4. Running up an incline.
   5. Previous leg injury.
   6. Poorly fitted or inadequate running shoes that do not support the foot and ankle.
   7. Less flexible shoes or shoes that have poor force absorption qualities.
   8. Overuse of the body part Gower leg).
   9. Running on uneven surfaces.
   10. Running on surfaces that are too hard or too soft.
   11. Participating in running or other athletic activities requiring frequent starts and stops.
   12. . Going too hard or too long during repeated exercise bouts.
   13. Running, walking, bicycle riding, and even standing in one place for a longer period.
   14. A weakness of the leg muscles.
   15. Loose ligaments in the foot.
   16. . Sudden change in the training.
2. Symptoms
   1. A dull ache in the front part of the lower leg.
   2. Muscle pain.
   3. Pain that develops during exercise.
   4. Pain along the inner part of the leg.
   5. Mild swelling in the lower leg.
   6. Numbness and weakness in the feet.
3. First Aid
   It involves "P.R.l.C.E.R" (Protection, Rest, Ice application, Compression, Elevation, and Referral).
   1. Protect the area from further injury.
   2. Provide rest and stop using the injured part.
   3. Apply ice over the affected area.
   4. Compress the area and apply proper bandaging to avoid movement.
   5. Elevate the injured part.
   6. At last, refer the casualty to a competent doctor.