Shin Splints Treatment

Pain along the front or inside of your shin?

Pain along your shin can make running, walking, football and everyday activities increasingly uncomfortable. Whether your symptoms have developed after increasing your training or have gradually worsened over time, early assessment can help identify the cause and support your recovery.

At Callen Olive, our experienced podiatrists provide expert assessment and personalised treatment to reduce pain, improve movement and help you return to the activities you enjoy.

Book your Biomechanical Assessment today.

How do I know if I have shin splints?

Shin splints commonly develop gradually and are one of the most frequent overuse injuries affecting the lower leg.

Symptoms may include:

• Aching pain along the inside of the shin

• Tenderness when touching the shinbone

• Pain during or after exercise

• Tight or fatigued calf muscles

• Discomfort when running, walking or jumping

• Lower leg stiffness

• Symptoms that improve with rest but return during activity

Many people notice the pain becomes more frequent as their activity levels increase.

What are shin splints?

Shin splints, also known as Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS), describe irritation of the muscles, tendons and connective tissues attached to the shinbone (tibia).

These tissues help absorb impact and control movement during walking, running and sport.

When they are repeatedly overloaded without adequate recovery, they become irritated, resulting in pain along the lower leg.

Shin splints are an overuse injury and are particularly common in runners, footballers and people returning to exercise after a break.

What causes shin splints?

There is rarely one single cause.

Several factors often contribute to increased stress on the lower leg, including:

• A sudden increase in training

• Running or walking further than usual

• Foot biomechanics

• Flat feet or overpronation

• Unsupportive or worn footwear

• Tight calf muscles

• Reduced lower limb strength

• Running on hard surfaces

• Inadequate recovery between training sessions

Successful treatment focuses on identifying and addressing these contributing factors.

How we treat shin splints

Treatment depends on your symptoms, activity levels and the reasons your tissues have become overloaded.

Following a comprehensive assessment, we'll consider:

• Your symptoms

• Walking and running mechanics

• Foot posture

• Training history

• Footwear

• Strength and flexibility

• Your recovery goals

Your personalised treatment plan may include:

• Activity modification

• Rehabilitation exercises

• Gait and running assessment

• Footwear advice

• Custom Foot Orthotics

• Shockwave Therapy where clinically appropriate

Biomechanical Assessment

Understanding how your feet and lower limbs function is one of the most important parts of treatment.

Your assessment may include:

• Clinical examination

• Biomechanical assessment

• Foot posture assessment

• OptoGait gait analysis

• Footwear review

• Training load assessment

• Lower limb strength and flexibility testing

Activity modification

Complete rest is rarely the answer.

Instead, we aim to modify your activity levels so your tissues can recover whilst helping you maintain your fitness where possible.

Rehabilitation

Targeted rehabilitation may help improve:

• Lower limb strength

• Calf flexibility

• Running mechanics

• Tissue resilience

• Long-term injury prevention

Footwear advice

Appropriate footwear can reduce impact forces and improve support during walking, running and sport.

Custom Foot Orthotics

Where foot mechanics are contributing to excessive loading, custom foot orthotics may help improve lower limb function and reduce strain on the tissues involved.

Shockwave Therapy

For persistent symptoms that have not responded to conservative treatment, Shockwave Therapy may be recommended to stimulate healing and support recovery.

Pricing

Every treatment begins with a comprehensive assessment so we can understand why your symptoms have developed and recommend the most appropriate treatment.

Treatment	Price
New Patient Biomechanical Assessment	£180
Principal Podiatrist Biomechanical Assessment	£225

If you're unsure which appointment is most suitable, our Patient Care Team will be happy to help.

Book your appointment

Persistent shin pain shouldn't stop you enjoying an active lifestyle.

Whether you're a runner, footballer or simply want to walk comfortably again, we're here to help.

Book your Biomechanical Assessment today and take the first step towards moving with comfort, confidence and ease.

Why Patients Choose Callen Olive

Your feet deserve more than treatment.

At Callen Olive, we believe exceptional podiatry is about far more than relieving pain.

It's about understanding how your feet affect your comfort, confidence and the way you move through life.

Every person who walks through our doors has different goals, which is why every treatment plan is tailored to your individual needs, lifestyle and ambitions.

Because no two people — or feet — are the same.

Expert Care. Personally Delivered.

We combine specialist clinical expertise, advanced technology and genuinely personalised care to help you achieve the best possible outcome.

From your first appointment, you'll understand what's causing your symptoms, the treatment options available and how we'll support you every step of the way.

Why Patients Choose Callen Olive

• Specialist podiatry team
• Personalised treatment plans
• Advanced technology
• Evidence-based care
• Award-winning patient experience
• Trusted by thousands of patients every year

More Than A Podiatry Appointment

Exceptional care isn't just about clinical expertise.

It's about feeling listened to, understood and supported from the moment you arrive until long after your treatment has finished.

Because that's what great care should feel like.

We Care.

It's more than our promise.

It's how we listen, how we explain, how we treat and how we support every patient who places their trust in us.

Because helping you move with comfort, confidence and ease is why Callen Olive exists.

Healthy Feet. Healthy Body. Healthy Mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do shin splints feel like?

Most people describe a dull ache or tenderness along the inside of the shin that becomes worse during or after activity.

What causes shin splints?

They usually develop when the muscles and connective tissues around the shinbone are overloaded through increased training, foot mechanics or inadequate recovery.

Are shin splints the same as a stress fracture?

No. Shin splints involve irritation of the tissues surrounding the bone, whereas a stress fracture is a small crack within the bone itself. Professional assessment helps distinguish between the two.

Can orthotics help shin splints?

For some people, custom foot orthotics help improve foot mechanics and reduce excessive strain on the lower leg.

Can I continue exercising?

In many cases, yes. We aim to help you remain active whilst reducing symptoms and supporting recovery.

How long do shin splints take to recover?

Recovery varies depending on the severity of the condition and the factors contributing to it. Following your assessment, your clinician will advise on the most appropriate recovery plan.

Further information

Shin splints are usually a load management problem

One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding shin splints is that complete rest is always required.

In reality, the tissues become painful because they are being asked to tolerate more load than they comfortably can.

Successful treatment focuses on understanding:

• Why the tissues became overloaded

• Whether training errors are present

• How your feet and lower limbs move

• Whether footwear is contributing

• How to gradually improve your tissues' ability to tolerate load

Shin splints or a stress fracture?

These conditions can feel similar but require different management.

Shin splints involve irritation of the muscles and connective tissues attached to the shinbone.

Stress fractures involve a small crack within the bone itself.

If your symptoms are severe, localised or not improving as expected, further investigations may be recommended.

Why early assessment matters

Continuing to train through shin pain can sometimes lead to longer recovery times and increase the risk of more significant injury.

Early assessment may help:

• Reduce pain

• Improve lower limb function

• Maintain activity levels

• Support recovery

• Reduce recurrence

• Improve long-term performance

Returning to running and sport

A gradual return to activity is often the most successful approach.

Once symptoms begin to settle, we can advise on appropriate progression of walking, running or sport to help reduce the likelihood of symptoms returning.

Related conditions

• Stress Fractures

• Achilles Tendinopathy

• Plantar Fasciitis

• Flat Feet

• Sports Injuries

Related treatments

• Biomechanical Assessment

• OptoGait Gait Analysis

• Custom Foot Orthotics

• Shockwave Therapy

• Sports Injury Assessment