Watch Dr Pearl discuss shin splints with a patient.
When you have shin splints you throb and ache after your daily run or just sprinting to catch the bus. The cause is stress on your shinbone and the connective tissues that attach muscles to your bones. They get inflamed and painful.
This common problem can result from:
- Flat feet — when the impact of a step makes your foot’s arch collapse (your doctor will call this overpronation)
- Shoes that don’t fit well or provide good support
- Working out without warmup or cooldown stretches
- Weak ankles, hips, or core muscles