Treating Your Shin Splints with Chiropractic Care

Man suffering from shin splints

Do You Have Shin Splints? Chiropractic Care Can Help

Do you struggle with frequent shin splints? Chronic shin pain could be related to arch problems, underlying issues with your muscles, or shoes that don't support your feet adequately. Your chiropractor can offer a few treatments that will relieve your pain and help you avoid shin splints in the future.

What Are Shin Splints?

Inflammation in the muscles, tendons, and tissue layer covering the tibia (shin) bone is responsible for shin splint pain. Shin splints are particularly common in runners, walkers, gymnasts, and dancers. If you participate in a sport that requires sudden stops and starts on a hard surface, such as basketball, tennis, or soccer, you may be more likely to develop shin splints.

Shin splints often develop after an unusually long or intense game, run, or workout. Stressed or fatigued calf muscles strain the tendons in your shin, causing shin splint pain. Tight calf muscles can also increase your risk.

Other risk factors include failing to stretch before exercising and wearing shoes that don't provide enough cushioning or arch support.

How Do Chiropractors Treat Shin Splints?

A spinal misalignment may be a contributing factor in shin splint pain. In addition to causing pain, misalignments stress muscles, ligaments, and tendons, making it easier for you to hurt yourself when you're active. As part of the treatment for shin splints, your chiropractor may recommend spinal manipulation, a treatment commonly referred to as an "adjustment." Your chiropractor will use quick thrusts to realign your spine, which helps reduce pain and inflammation throughout your body.

Realigning your spine improves the alignment and balance of your entire body. In fact, once your spine is properly aligned, stress and strain on your lower leg may decrease.

Adjustments can also be performed on your knee, ankle, calf, and foot. Adjusting these areas will loosen muscles and improve blood flow, in addition to improving alignment.

As part of your treatment plan, your chiropractor may recommend one or more of these chiropractic treatments:

  • Massage. Massaging tight muscles in your leg keeps them loose, eases pain, and may help you avoid new shin splints. Percussion massage can be an effective treatment for shin splints, according to Chiropractic Economics. During a percussion massage, vibrating rollers and massage devices are used to reduce knots, improve blood flow and decrease scar tissue.
  • Shoe Inserts. You may be more likely to develop shin splints if you have high or low arches, or your feet tend to roll inward or outward when you walk. Prescription shoe inserts, called orthotics, will keep your feet properly balanced and supported. More than 75 percent of long-distance runners in one research study reported that they no longer had lower leg pain or that their symptoms had improved after wearing orthotics. The study appeared in the American Journal of Sports Medicine
  • Soft Tissue Mobilization. A handheld instrument loosens tight tissues during soft tissue mobilization therapy and breaks up scar tissue around your tibia. The treatment relieves pain and may help you avoid shin splints when you return to your normal activities.
  • Stretching Exercises. Your shin splints could be related to tight muscles in the back of your calf and weak muscles in the front of your lower leg. Your chiropractor will teach you stretching and strengthening exercises that will keep these muscles balanced.
  • Ultrasound Therapy. Ultrasound therapy involves using sound waves to gently heat the deep tissues in your lower leg. The therapy eases pain, reduces inflammation and swelling, improves blood flow, and helps break up scar tissue.
  • Taping. Applying flexible tape to your foot and lower leg may reduce stress on your shin. During your visit to the chiropractic office, you'll learn how to apply the tape correctly.
  • Dry Needling. Knots in your shin muscles may be to blame for your shin splints. Dry needling, a therapy that involves relaxing tight muscle fibers by inserting a needle into them, loosens and relaxes the knots.

Chiropractic care provides a safe, effective, natural way to treat shin splints and other painful conditions. If shin splints are a common problem for you, contact our office to schedule an appointment.

Sources:

Chiropractic Economics: The Science Behind Percussion Massage, 4/20/21

PubMed: American Journal of Sports Medicine: Effectiveness of Orthotic Shoe Inserts in the Long-Distance Runner, July/August 1991

Medline Plus: Shin Splints – Self-Care, 11/5/18

Location

Find us on the map

Office Hours

Monday:

Closed

Tuesday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

2:30 pm-7:00 pm

Wednesday:

Closed

Thursday:

8:00 am-12:00 pm

2:30 pm-7:00 pm

Friday:

Closed

Saturday:

8:00 am-11:00 am

Sunday:

Closed

  • "I have suffered from severe back pain and migraines. The treatment has been very helpful and Dr Waisbrots adjustment are very gentle. He also treats my children. 2 of my children have had chiari decompression surgery and he has helped them tremendously."
    ★★★★★ Kim / Google+
  • "I feel very confident in the care Dr. Paul gives because of his wealth of knowledge related to the body, science and healing! Leah is the office manager and is very organized and quick to answer any questions about appointments and billing. Michelle provides professional therapy. All 3, along with the massage therapists, work together harmoniously providing an overall great experience."
    ★★★★★ Nancy / Facebook
  • "Doctor Paul continues to keep me on my feet. I stand, run, and coach all day, then typically toss a couple more hours in after school. His skills are awesome and his personality is engaging and pleasant. My wife and two kids both get proactive treatment as well and are very healthy."
    ★★★★★ Casey / Google +
  • "From fixing my frozen shoulder to keeping me active, Dr Paul and his wonderful staff have been there for me. I see them every two weeks now to maintain my good health."
    ★★★★★ Barb / Google+
  • "Awesome office. Wonderful doctor and Staff!"
    ★★★★★ Leah / Google +
  • "I have attended the clinic many times since the start of 2014. Doc was thorough in his examination and took lots of time to explaine everything to me. He is an excellent practitioner and is always positive and upbeat. His support staff operate like a fine-tuned machine and are cheerful and competent. I highly recommend this clinic."
    ★★★★★ Michael / Google+
  • "Amazing staff, friendly, clean and extremely knowledgeable. A++"
    ★★★★★ James / Google +
  • "Dr. Paul allows me to stay in great shape because I run, lift, and do so many plyometrics my core takes a beating. He fixes me up every time!"
    ★★★★★ Connor / Yellowpages.com
  • "I cannot praise Dr. Waisbrot and staff at Baker Chiro enough. I have been going to Dr. Waisbrot for five years and have had great success. I am a cyclist and have injured my back several times within that time and without fail, they have helped me get back to riding all without medicine, and in a very short time."
    ★★★★★ Bruce / Google+
  • "After two years of seeing three different doctors, having an MRI and several sets of xrays for my shoulder issue, Dr. Paul immediately diagnosed the root cause of the problem. I felt so much better the day after my very first visit. I have been raving about him to everyone I know. He also help my son with a knee problem. He has a wonderful personality as does his office staff. Highly recommend!"
    ★★★★★ RateMDs.com
  • "Dr. Paul is my guy. We bring the whole family in for superb treatment with a very engaging clinician and talented chiropractor."
    ★★★★★ Janel / Yelp
  • "I suffered for years with chronic lower back pain (L5,S1). Dr. Paul has given me new life! Absolutely, hands down, the most incredible chiropractor I've been to."
    ★★★★★ Bradley / Google+