Front of Leg Hurts After Running
If you’ve ever experienced pain on the front of your legs after running, you may have been told you have shin splints. But what are shin splints?
The term “shin splints” can sometimes be used as a catch-all for any pain in the front of the lower leg.
To better understand where your pain is truly coming from, seeing a PT can be helpful.
What Structures Are On The Front Of The Leg
Your shin bone is called the tibia, and there are a handful of muscles that are connected to the tibia.
Those muscles are responsible for lifting your ankles and toes.
There is a thin layer of tissue over your shin bone called the periosteum which gives the bone blood supply and nutrition.
Common Causes Of Front Leg Pain After Running
Some common causes of front leg pain after running include:
Overuse or muscle strain of anterior shin muscles- The muscles on the front of your shin help lift your foot and toes off the ground when you walk and run. If you increase running too quickly, those muscles can get microtrauma from the repetitive activity if the running load exceeds your muscles’ capacity.
Periostitis of the tibia (shin splints)- This is inflammation of the periosteum (that lining around the bone). Periostitis also happens as a result of repetitive stress to the bone that can be caused by the muscles on the front of the shin.
Chronic compartment syndrome- When pressure builds up in the anterior compartment of the leg, it restricts blood flow to the area causing pain. In chronic compartment syndrome, the pressure builds up with increased activity such as running.
Tibial stress fracture- This is a very small fracture in the shin bone caused from repetitive stress and is common in runners. The fracture is so small it typically doesn’t show up on x-ray so an MRI or CT scan needs to be taken to confirm or rule out a stress fracture.
Shin Splints Vs. Other Diagnoses
Symptoms and aggravating factors can help discern between shin splints and the other causes of front leg pain with running.
Shin splints:
Diffuse achy pain along shins
Pain when starting to run that improves with your run
Pain comes back after running
Can cause swelling along shins
Ankle movement can be pain free
Muscle strain:
Pain can worsen with running
Pain with ankle motion
Can cause bruising in fleshy area just next to shin
Chronic compartment syndrome:
Extreme tension and burning in shins
Can cause numbness in lower legs and feet
Swelling and redness can occur
Pain gets worse with running
Pain improves with rest
Tibial stress fracture:
Sharp pin point pain
Aching and throbbing at rest and at night
Pain is worst during heavy bone loading activity like running and jumping
How Training Habits Contribute
Overtraining can contribute to any injury to the lower leg.
Recovery days are just as important as your hardest training days. If you aren’t getting enough recovery then your body will not be able to repair and grow muscle, it can actually start to break down. Nutrition also plays a key role in healthy training.
You must have proper fuel for your muscles to have the energy to perform the task at hand.
When To Be Concerned
Tibial stress fracture is the most concerning injury because continuing to run can be very dangerous causing a serious fracture to develop.
Chronic compartment syndrome is also concerning due to the pressure causing damage to tissue in the area, but it is not as emergent as acute compartment syndrome which happens from trauma causing pressure and the pressure will not stop like the chronic type does with rest.
How To Manage Symptoms
It is most important to meet with a healthcare professional like a PT to have a better understanding of what is going on. If you are experiencing true shin splints, then activity modification paired with symptom management will be the best course of treatment.
Treatment Options
When I work with runners who are experiencing shin splints, we spend time optimizing recovery and adjusting training schedules. We also work on symptom management with the following techniques:
Soft tissue massage
Dry needling
Muscle scraping
Stretching
Ankle strengthening
Where to Find Physical Therapy for Runners in Meredith, NH
If you are a runner in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire and are looking for answers to your pain with running I would love to work together! I offer physical therapy specifically for runners; you can rest assured that you’ll work with someone (me!) who understands running demands.
My clinic is conveniently located in downtown Meredith, NH. Book a free discovery call or evaluation!