As runners, we’ve all encountered the demobilizing pain of shin splints. While the medical condition known as Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS) is most common in newer runners, it can strike more experienced athletes too — especially as they take strides to advance distance or intensity. BMI and bone density also factor into the frequency and intensity of shin splints.
Let’s look at the causes of shin splints and what we can do to treat, or even avoid, being painfully sidelined.
What Are Shin Splints?