Shin splints are a painful injury often affecting runners and other athletes. While this injury can eventually heal on its own with rest and time, physical therapy may help speed up the process.
Seeking physical therapy for shin splints can offer a non-invasive method of relieving pain and treating the source of this condition. At Exchange Physical Therapy Group, care is focused not only on recovery but also on long-term prevention. Treatment can help address maladaptive movement patterns that may have contributed to your injury, reducing your risk of developing shin splints again.
Learn how physical therapy in Jersey City, NJ, can help you find relief from shin splints.
How Physical Therapy for Shin Splints Offers Relief
Shin splints, formally called medial tibial stress syndrome, are a common injury that occurs with overuse of the lower leg. This injury is prevalent in athletes who engage in repetitive movements, such as running and jumping. These movements can strain the medial tibia, leading to pain and soreness along the shinbone.
Physicians often recommend rest and ice as treatments for shin splints, but many athletes seek physical therapy to streamline relief and recovery. The right treatment exercises can reduce the recovery period and help patients return to their sports faster.
Below are a few of the ways that physical therapy for shin splints offers relief.
Stretching and Strengthening Leg Muscles
Physical therapists guide patients through specialized exercises and stretches to strengthen the tibialis anterior and lower leg muscles, improve ankle flexibility, and increase load tolerance. All of these effects can reduce the pain of walking with shin splints and help prevent this overuse injury from recurring.
Exercises might include:
- Heel walks
- Toe raises
- Shin raises
- Resistance band exercises
Your physical therapist might also use a foam roller for calf muscle stretching exercises.
Having a physical therapist guide you through these exercises will ensure that you perform them correctly and that they are safe for your injury and overall condition. If your shin splints coincide with any other injuries, attempting exercises without a physical therapist’s supervision could make your condition worse.
Recommending At-Home Pain Relief Methods
It can be challenging to understand the correct way to relieve shin splint pain on your own. You might see some sources saying to ice the area, others saying to apply heat, and still others recommending certain over-the-counter pain medications.
Your physical therapist can recommend exercises to perform at home to continue maintaining progress between sessions. They can also provide specific instructions about icing your tibia and lower leg to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
It’s often helpful to apply ice for short amounts of time several times per day, but your therapist can help you understand the schedule that will be most helpful for your pain. You won’t need to sort through dozens of online articles and hope that the advice online applies to you.
Preventing the Future Development of Shin Splints
After developing shin splints for the first time, you will be prone to developing them again unless you address the underlying cause. Physical therapy for shin splints helps minimize the chances of recurrence.
Your physical therapist can assess your movement patterns and perform a gait analysis to understand any biomechanical issues that may have contributed to the injury. They can also recommend certain footwear or orthotics to provide better support when walking or exercising, helping you strengthen various leg muscles to minimize the risk of overuse during your normal activities.
Certain habits may also make you more prone to developing shin splints, such as running on hard surfaces like concrete. Gaining a deeper understanding of your movements and activities will allow your physical therapist to pinpoint the exact improvements that can help prevent recurrence.
Schedule an Appointment With Exchange Physical Therapy Group
Shin splints can cause significant pain, discomfort, and frustration. Exchange Physical Therapy Group provides physical therapy for shin splints to help streamline recovery and prevent sports injuries from recurring.
Schedule an appointment in Jersey City, NJ, today by calling (201) 721-6130.
