Shin splints massage therapy TorontoShin Splints

When you run, walk or do high-impact activity, the lower-leg muscles take a beating and pull on the tissues of the shin (the clinical name is medial tibial stress syndrome). It often follows a jump in training — walking more, or going from 5Ks to 10Ks. Anyone can get it, though runners feel it most.

Not a diagnosis — for more information, contact me or another trusted healthcare provider.

Deep, achy, sore lower-leg pain after activity, sometimes throbbing, with sharp pain at the start of or during a run or walk.

Massage to relax the muscles around the lower leg is something massage therapy is very well suited for. Alongside that, we build stronger connective tissue to absorb impact — weighted calf raises and weighted tib raises (pulling the toes toward the body), starting with calf raises and toe points and pulls. As tolerance builds, we add timed kneeling with toes pointed and kneeling with toes tucked. At home, a lacrosse ball on the front of the shins, a lacrosse ball or foam roller on the back, and a massage gun all work well too.

Shoes matter more than people expect — running shoes have a lifespan we tend to push past. Check your shoes' rated distance and log your kilometres, since fresh shoes can often ease this with no other treatment, given a few days to a couple of weeks off running (cross-train instead) or a scaled-back distance and intensity. Concrete, pavement and asphalt tend to be worse than gravel, turf or a synthetic track.

Even without shin splints, runners should do preventative strengthening. Getting ahead of this issue will prevent some pain, tears, and lost hours on the track.

What I Focus On

• Muscle Release
• Connective Tissue Loading
• Footwear Review
• Prevention