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CONDITION/DISORDER SYNONYMS
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Anterior lateral tibial periostitis
Anterior lateral tibial stress syndrome
Anterior lateral stress fracture
Anterior shin splints
Anterior tibialis tendonitis
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PREFERRED PRACTICE PATTERN3
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4E: Impaired Joint Mobility, Motor Function, Muscle Performance, and Range of Motion Associated with Localized Inflammation
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PATIENT PRESENTATION
A 23-year-old man presents with bilateral anterior shin pain. He indicates that 3 weeks earlier he began an exercise program that involves jogging 3 miles per day. The patient also indicates that his new exercise program increased his activity level considerably from the past year, with a lot more jogging. The patient has been wearing a pair of old sneakers while jogging. The pain starts about mile 2 and he has to stop running. The X-ray was negative for a stress fracture.
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Lower anterior lateral leg pain provoked by activity
Pain is localized in the anterior lateral aspects of the tibia
Produced by stress or traction that causes microtrauma to the soleus muscle at the origin point of the shinbone
Stress-reaction inflammation of the periosteal and musculotendinous fascial junctions
Results from repeated activity without proper conditioning or allowing enough recovery time between activities
Attributed to muscles of the lower extremities being overloaded or by biomechanical irregularities
Recurring dull ache along the anterior lateral aspect of the upper tibia
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Essentials of Diagnosis
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Diagnosis usually made by clinical examination
Pain increases with active dorsiflexion and when the anterior tibialis muscle stretched into plantarflexion
Muscle length and strength imbalances, especially a tight gastrocnemius-soleus muscle group
Common to see compartment syndrome associated with shin splints
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General Considerations
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SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Tightness in gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantar muscles
Pain: Mild to severe with weight-bearing activities and gait
Described as a dull ache to lower extremities
Point tenderness to tibia at anterior lateral ...