Sports Can Cause Serious Foot Problems Including Shin Splints

If you love running or participating in organized sports, you're at risk for shin pain, pain in the knees, Achilles tendonitis, and other lower extremity injuries. Medial tibial stress syndrome, as it is referred to by the Mayo Clinic, is a pain that goes down the length of the shin bone and is caused by too much stress on the bones, muscles, and ligaments of the lower leg. This stress can be brought on by running activities in any setting and can be exacerbated by flat feet and insufficient arch support.

Many leading sports therapists recommend using ice, resting from running or sports, and using more comfortable shoes, preferably in conjunction with sports orthotics. Icing the shin and supporting structures in the lower leg help ease pain while decreasing the amount of swelling soon after an injury. Rest is always suggested because it allows for the bones, tendons and muscles to repair themselves. Finally, wearing more comfortable shoes can dramatically help avoid re-injury to the lower legs and feet by providing better cushioning and arch support. This allows for good foot location and resists shock. Sport orthotics can make all the difference in performance and endurance because they offer foot arch support as well as extra cushioning. For people with low arches, these specialized sports orthotics lift the arch appropriately and realign the lower body.

Over-pronation due to flat feet can cause more than just shin splints to occur. Heel spurs and plantar fasciitis, knee, ankle, and low back pain, as well as Achilles tendonitis can all be brought on by flat feet. If sports orthotics are not used during strenuous physical activities, re-injury and major foot pain can ensue. The workings involved in these problems are linked to the plantar fascia tendon, which is the central structure involved in the foot arch. It is a band-like structure that stretches to absorb the shock caused when the foot carries our body weight during sports activity. In people with flat feet, this tendon has been over-stretched and has lost its lengthening abilities. Its capability to absorb shock has left completely. This condition also causes overpronation of the foot, or the inclination for the ankles to roll toward the center of the body. The weight of the body is then oddly centered on one area rather than being evenly distributed over the full area of the foot. This is how sport insoles can be of utmost importance in cases of flat feet and other foot ailments; they provide stability and softness in all the right areas.