Shin splints are a common development for those who frequently participate in strenuous physical activity, especially stop-and-start sports like soccer, sprinting, or running.
Shins splints develop as the result of excessive force being placed on the shin bone and surrounding tissue. The force causes swelling in the muscles and increased pressure on the shin bone, which can cause throbbing pain and inflammation in the lower leg. Learn more about shin splints.
What Causes Shin Splints?
Most often, shin splints are caused by strenuous athletic activity and irritated and swollen muscles.
Running, jumping, and kicking put extra stress and force on the leg. Stop-and-start sports, such as basketball and tennis, put excessive stress on the lower leg, making it more likely to develop shin splints if you are participating in these sports.
This constant movement leads to small fractures in the lower leg bones. Pain from shin splints is a strong indication that you need to change your routine and allow your body to heal and repair itself.
Treatment for Shin Splints
Firstly, give your body a break from strenuous activities. RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) is always a good first step to allow your body to heal. Over-the-counter pain medication can reduce inflammation as well as speed up recovery.
To prevent re-injury, supportive footwear and insoles can add much-needed shock absorption underneath your feet and dampen the impact of your activities.
How Insoles Help With Shin Splints
Insoles can play a critical role in preventing and helping heal shin splints, here’s how:
- Shock-absorbing cushioning throughout the insole helps lessen the impact forces that travel up through the legs when walking or running, reducing the repetitive stress on the muscles and tissues along the shin bone that become inflamed with shin splints.
- Arch support helps control the rate and degree of foot flattening during activity, which reduces the pulling force on the muscles that attach along the shin bone.
- Deep heel cups stabilize the rear foot and help center the heel during impact, promoting better leg alignment and reducing the inward twisting forces that can contribute to shin splint development.
- Support through the midfoot area helps distribute pressure more evenly across the entire foot, preventing the excessive stress that occurs when certain areas of the foot bear too much weight and force the shin muscles to work harder to maintain stability.
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