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Shin SplintsAnterolateral Shin Splint, Posteromedial Shin Splint
A shin splint is a painful condition that occurs from damage to muscles along the shin, and the pain can occur anywhere from just below the knee to above the ankle. The typical cause is continued, repeated stress to the lower leg, and is common in runners. Shin splints may be caused by:
Anterolateral Shin Splints Anterolateral shin splints affect muscles in the front and outside parts of the shin, and is the result of a natural imbalance in the size of opposing muscles. Shin muscles pull the foot up, whereas the large and powerful calf muscle pulls the foot down every time the heel strikes the ground when running. These calf muscles can exert a lot of force, enough force that can actually injure the shin muscles. Anterolateral shin splints will cause pain in the front and outside of the shin. Initial pain is felt when the heel strikes the ground though eventually the pain just stays constant. To allow this type of shin splint to heal, the person must stop running and do other kinds of exercise recommended by their doctor or physical therapist. Such exercises usually involve stretching the calf muscle, as tight calf muscles put a lot of pressure on the shin muscle and tendons. A constant regimen of ultrasound is commonly recommended to help massage the affected muscles and tendons, allowing them to heal more quickly and reduce inflammation and pain in the area. Treatment of the calf muscle with ultrasound will also help increase the flexibility of this muscle, thus indirectly reducing the average level of strain on the shin muscle and tendon group. Posteromedial shin splints Posteromedial shin splints affect muscles in the back and inner part of the lower leg. These muscle groups are responsible for lifting the heel to support the runners weight on the ball portion of the foot when running. This type of shin splint is often caused by running on a banked track or non-level running surface or wearing improper shoes that do not protect the foot from rolling (pronation). Pain begins on the inside of the lower leg (usually within 7 inches above the ankles), but will worsen and continue to rise up the leg. Initially, only tendons of the muscles will become inflamed, but if running continues, the muscles themselves could become affected. At the worst, the tendon could become detached from the bone - a painful occurrence that causes bleeding and excessive inflammation. To allow a posteromedial shin splint to heal, the runner must temporarily stop running and do other kinds of exercise recommended by their doctor or physical therapist. Special shoes may be prescribed during the healing phase, and it may be advisable to look into potential problems with pronation of the feet. This can often be solved by researching and using shoes that better prevent pronation and/or the avoidance of running on side slopes. Tips on TendinitisThe strained tendon is a common yet painful injury that will occur in almost everyone at least once in their lifetime. The trick with a strained tendon is to make sure it heals properly which will provide the lowest chance of re-injury. Re-injury of a strained or stressed tendon occurs more easily than the first time and there is usually much more inflammation around a re-injured tendon than there was during the first occurrence of the injury. Tendonitis is a degenerative condition in the tendon fibers that attach muscles to bone, and sufferers generally complain of a severe, burning pain in the area, which gradually worsens and is exacerbated by stress on the joint.  If you got it from a workout, heavily reduce your workout intensity (eliminate it altogether if possible) through the healing stage, and make sure the injured tendon be warmed up (and down) properly before and after a workout where it will be stressed. When treating the tendon, rest the area (meaning do NOT workout this area other than stretching), apply cold compression for 10-20 minutes at a time for at least 3 times a day. Do this to the injured area for the first day up to 3 days. Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy may be used after the acute swelling is improved. Cold compression therapy will reduce initial inflammation and swelling and Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy increases blood flow through the area to speed the healing process. This can be further helped by the use of ultrasound applications over the affected area, as it reduces swelling quickly and increases blood flow to the area, helping the tendon heal more quickly.
| Tendon Injury Facts: When the tendon gets inflamed it is known as tendonitis, and when the tendons are chronically overused, it may lead to microscopic tears in the collagen matrix and causes a gradual weakening of the tissues. Achilles tendonitis is a common injury among runners, as the Achilles tendon is responsible for helping you lift off the ground with each stride. As computers become ever more important elements of the work place and everyday life, incidents of wrist tendonitis are on the rise. Oral Medications can mask the pain but do not aid in the healing of tendonitis. Anti-inflammatories and pain killers can cause tendonitis to worsen. Ice and Compression are the easiest and most effective treatments for tendonitis. Dear MendMeShop, I greatly appreciate all your help you have given me throughout this very trying and frustrating experience. The ultrasound has helped in the healing process of my torn meniscus immensely. I took your advice and managed to do the ultrasound 3 times a day on the routine as you had outlined; however, in the a.m. I was only able to squeeze in 5 minutes. Within a week, the inflammation was dissipating. I am continuing my normal active lifestyle pain free (i.e. hiking, iceskating, and daily workouts at the gym). Occasionally, I will have flare-ups from overuse, so I continue to use the ultrasound, about once a day or every other day on a per needed basis. I realize that a torn meniscus is not something that will heal overnight, so patiently giving it time and TLC. The convenience of being able to use the ultrasound in home is such an advantage. I would highly recommend this product and your company to anyone. You and your staff have helped me with all your advice and support more than my own doctor!! Many thanks. Rating: J Jene Dear MendMeShop, My name is Bridget, and I am the one that received the Inferno Wrap that Doug purchased. I had stepped off of my front steps early on Halloween day, I missed the entire bottom step somehow.... and seriously rolled my ankle. I am a avid runner and try to get somewhere between 25-40 miles in a week depending on what I am training for at the time. My ankle swelled like a balloon and stayed that way for 2 solid months! I was unable to run, and believe me I tried. I could barely even walk. I was unable to go to the Dr. because of some insurance issues that were being delt with, so I got on the Internet and started doing some research to see what I could do... That is when I came across your web site. I am not gonna lie, I didn't believe it. I thought it all sounded to good to be true. I actually thought about it for a week before I decided to give it a try, the $ back guarantee is what the deciding factor was for me. OMG!!! I have nothing but praise for your product! It is an amazing thing, it only took 1 week for the swelling to go down and stay down! I was back on the trails, running again on the 8th day! I am continuing to use the Inferno Wrap on a regular basis, thank you so much for getting me back out where I belong... running the Trails. Rating: Bridget Pisan  Dear MendMeShop, At the end of the 2009 school year, (I'm a teacher) I developed plantar fasciitis in my right foot. I remember literally being in agony the last day of school and calling my orthopedic surgeon for an emergency appointment. He saw me, prescribed ice, supportive shoes, and offered to give me a shot of corticosteroid. He informed me that the shot might help but it also might make it worse! Needless to say, with that comment, I passed on the shot. I was really having a hard time with the pain. I began to search on the internet to find out all I could about plantar facsciitis and possible regimens to follow to aleviate my problem.. One site led to another and I finally found MendMeShop. MendMeShop offered a foot wrap that sounded like the perfect way to ice my foot. The plantar Freezie gel pack didn't freeze solid and the wrap molded perfectly to my foot. It certainly beat a tub full of hard ice! After that, I began researching the little ultrasound machine offered at MendMeShop. I was a little afraid of the price, but decided, after reading many testimonials, to invest in something many said worked well for them. I used the ultrasound regularly with great success along with the plantar Freezie. Following the directions in the ultrasound box, (I also got a phone call from MendMeShop to help me with the machine) I felt a great deal of difference in the level of pain in my foot after just a couple of days treatment. The condition is now gone from my right foot. I routinely exercise fairly vigorously including jogging on the treadmill. I would never have been able to do that last summer! My husband and I continue to use the ultrasound on sore tendons and muscle spasms. The ultrasound was a bit of an investment, but who can put a price on freedom from pain? Rating: Caroline Withers           |
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