If you’re experiencing pain or tightness along the front or inside of your lower leg, you may be dealing with shin splints. A common overuse injury that affects runners, gym-goers, and active individuals. At Physio Pro, our experienced physiotherapists provide hands-on treatment and tailored exercise programs to relieve pain, correct the underlying cause, and help you get back to moving confidently.
Shin splints, medically known as medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS), occur when repetitive stress irritates the muscles, tendons, and bone tissue along the shinbone (tibia). The condition is common in runners, dancers, and athletes who rapidly increase training intensity, frequency, or surface type.
If left untreated, shin splints can develop into stress reactions or even stress fractures—so early diagnosis and management are essential.
Shin splints usually develop from a combination of biomechanical stress and training overload. Common causes include:
Typical signs of shin splints include:
At Physio Pro, we take a comprehensive, hands-on approach to managing shin splints—addressing both the pain and the root cause. Your physiotherapist will begin with a detailed biomechanical assessment to identify training errors, muscle imbalances, and movement restrictions.
Every treatment plan is individually tailored to your sport, fitness level, and recovery goals.
Between physiotherapy sessions, you can support your recovery with simple at-home strategies:
Once pain subsides, prevention becomes the key. To keep shin splints from returning:
At Physio Pro, we take a hands-on, evidence-based approach to treating shin splints. Our experienced physiotherapists combine manual therapy, targeted exercises, and movement retraining to deliver lasting results, not just short-term relief. With modern clinics in Floreat and Como, we provide personalised, results-driven care trusted by Perth’s athletes, families, and active individuals alike.
Shin splints are caused by repetitive stress on the shinbone and surrounding muscles. This often happens when you suddenly increase your running distance, train on hard surfaces, wear unsupportive footwear, or have flat feet or poor biomechanics.
Both conditions cause lower leg pain, but shin splints usually create a broad, aching discomfort along the inner or front edge of the shin. A stress fracture, however, causes a sharper, localised pain that worsens with impact and may persist even at rest. A physiotherapist can perform tests to confirm the diagnosis.
You should avoid high-impact activities like running or jumping while symptoms persist. Low-impact exercises such as swimming, cycling, or walking on soft surfaces are safer alternatives until pain subsides. Your Physio Pro therapist will guide your return-to-run progression safely.
Mild cases can settle within two to four weeks with rest, physiotherapy, and gradual return to activity. More persistent cases may take six to eight weeks or longer, depending on severity, training load, and how quickly contributing factors are corrected.
Yes. Physiotherapy addresses both pain and the underlying cause. At Physio Pro, we use hands-on treatment, dry needling, and targeted exercises to reduce inflammation, correct movement patterns, and build long-term resilience.
Prevention involves progressive training, supportive footwear, and strength conditioning. Gradually increase running distances, maintain calf and hip strength, stretch regularly, and replace worn-out shoes before cushioning deteriorates.
