Symptoms of shin splints

The main symptom of shin splints is pain inthe shin bones, which run down the front of yourlower legs.

The pain tends to:

  • begin soon after starting exercise
  • gradually improve when resting sometimes the pain may fade while you're still exercising, but it caneventually become constant and continue even when resting
  • be dull and achy to begin with, but may become increasingly sharp or severe and stop you exercising
  • affectboth shins
  • befelt over a largepart of the shin (an area over 5cm across) pain in a small area may be caused by a stress fracture instead

Sometimes there may also be some swelling.

Content supplied by the NHS Website

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018