Physical Therapy Near Port Jefferson: Shin Splint Treatment

Have you noticed aches and pains in your shins after running a seemingly short distance? Are you an athlete that goes through grueling workouts and practices? You need physical therapy near Port Jefferson because you might be dealing with shin splints. It’s important to know what shin splints are and to be aware of your treatment options. You may be able to alleviate the pain with self-treatment, but in many cases, people will need professional help to do so. If you have shin splints and are looking for physical therapy near Port Jefferson, we invite you to visit us at Island Sports Physical Therapy.

What Are Shin Splints?

Also referred to as medial tibial stress syndrome, shin splints arise as a result of too much stress on the shin bone and the tissues that attach muscle to the bones. This causes inflammation of the shins, which leads to throbbing, aches, and pains.

Causes of Shin Splints

While it is stress that causes shin splints, this stress can be brought on by a variety of factors. Athletes are at especially high risk, as they generally put their legs and shins through large amounts of wear and tear. When the proper precautions and protective measures aren’t taken, the likelihood of getting shin splints increases. Examples of common causes of shin splints are listed below:

Flat feet – when the impact of a step makes your foot’s arch collapse.
Wearing shoes that don’t fit correctly and/or don’t provide enough support.
Lack of stretching to warm up before working out.
Lack of stretching to cool down after working out.
Weak ankles, hips, or core muscles.
Sudden and drastic changes in workout routines. Raising the frequency and intensity of your workouts too high in a short period of time.

Treatment Options

While some of the causes are avoidable, once you have shin splints, you’ll need to take the time to make the necessary changes to alleviate the pain. Basic rest will help treat your shin splints in some cases, but there are additional beneficial treatment options. Remember that you may need professional treatment, as your shin splints could be occurring due to a fault in your functional movements. Suppose you’re looking for physical therapy near Port Jefferson. In that case, Island Sports Physical Therapy, physical therapy near Port Jefferson, can evaluate your functional movements and help you correct them to alleviate your shin splints and avoid them in the future. However, there are effective self-treatment options. Patience is key when treating shin splints. Recovery time can vary depending on the individual, as some cases can take up to 3-6 months to be alleviated. Examples of self-treatment options are listed below:

Rest – It takes time to heal
Ice your shin(s) – It is recommended to do so for 20-30 minutes every 3-4 hours until the pain subsides.
Use insoles or orthotics for your shoes. Shoe inserts, which you can buy right off the shelf or have custom-made, can help if your arches collapse or flatten when you stand up.
Take anti-inflammatory painkillers – Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen, will help alleviate pain and swelling. As always, use them as the label instructs unless a doctor tells you otherwise.