|What are shin splints?|
|Around the Academy:
Shin splints are a common problem in the lower leg for athletes who change from one playing surface to another between seasons.
England bowler James Kirtley suffered from it during the summer and many footballers such as Andrew Cole have been temporarily laid off with it.
The muscles at the front of the leg get injured or inflamed.
This can stem from playing too much sport on hard surfaces.
Or because of a weakness in the leg muscles, your running technique or even whether you have flat feet or high arches.
The affected muscles in the tibia also help maintain the arch of the foot which means there may also be pain when the toes or ankle is bent.
The pain stops when resting, but the injury will often remain unless the above causes are treated.
Physiotherapists may ensure you are wearing proper footwear, tape your shins or even recommend a leg brace.
Cooling the injury in acute stages and then applying heat may also help.
Building up your muscles around your ankles will help to support those leg muscles causing the pain.
And getting yourself some proper cushioned footwear will help to soften the impact when your feet hit the ground when running.
Changing the way you run may also need to be considered. Having a smoother stride will again mean that the impact is spread more evenly throughout your feet and legs.