Shin Splints Treatment in London and Surrey
Shin splints also known as Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS) can make running, walking, sport and exercise uncomfortable, especially when the pain keeps returning.
The term shin splints is often used to describe pain and tenderness along or near the shin bone. It commonly affects runners and active people, but it can also happen after repeated walking, harder training or a sudden change in activity.
Your shin pain, training load, gait, footwear and lower-limb mechanics can be assessed to help understand what may be contributing to your symptoms. Your next steps will depend on your assessment findings, activity level and goals.
What are shin splints?
Shin splints usually refers to pain along the shin bone, also called the tibia.
Pain may be felt along the inside of the shin, towards the front of the lower leg or around the area where muscles attach to the bone. It often develops when the lower leg is being asked to tolerate more load than it is ready for.
That load may come from running, jumping, sport, long walks, hill work, hard surfaces or changes in training. In some cases, shin pain can also be linked to foot posture, footwear, muscle strength, flexibility or how the lower limb is moving.
Shin splints can be frustrating because symptoms may ease with rest, then return when running or activity starts again. Assessment can help identify what may be keeping the problem going.
Shin splints symptoms
Shin splints symptoms vary from person to person. Some people feel a dull ache, while others notice sharper discomfort that builds during exercise.
You may notice:
- Pain along the inside of the shin
- Pain at the front or outside of the shin
- Shin pain during running
- Shin pain after exercise
- Tenderness along the shin bone
- Symptoms that worsen as training continues
- Pain that settles with rest, then returns with activity
- Shin pain when walking longer distances
- Discomfort after increasing running distance or intensity
- Pain that keeps coming back when activity increases
You do not need to be certain that you have shin splints before booking. Shin pain can have several causes, so assessment helps clarify what may be happening.
What do shin splints feel like?
Shin splints often feel like an ache, soreness or tenderness along the shin.
The pain may start as mild discomfort at the beginning or end of a run. As symptoms build, it may appear earlier during activity or continue afterwards.
Some people describe a tight, pulling or bruised feeling along the lower leg. Others notice a more localised area of tenderness. If pain becomes very focused, severe or continues at rest, it is important to get assessed, as other causes of shin pain may need to be considered.
What can contribute to shin splints?
Shin splints are often linked to load.
This means the amount of pressure, impact or repeated stress passing through the lower leg during activity. The body usually adapts well to gradual change, but symptoms can appear when the increase is too sudden or recovery is limited.
Possible contributing factors include:
- Running volume increasing too quickly
- Sudden changes in training intensity
- Returning to sport too quickly
- Hard or uneven surfaces
- Hill running or speed work
- Foot posture
- Lower-limb loading patterns
- Muscle weakness or tightness
- Reduced recovery time
- Previous foot, ankle or lower-limb injury
- Footwear that is not suited to your needs
The shin may be the painful area, but it is not always the full story. How your foot, ankle, calf, knee and hip work together can all influence how load is managed.
When should you get shin pain assessed?
It is sensible to book an assessment if shin pain is affecting walking, running, sport or daily activity.
Assessment may be helpful if:
- Shin pain keeps coming back
- Symptoms are getting worse
- Pain has not improved with sensible rest or activity changes
- Running brings the pain on each time
- Pain continues after exercise
- You have diabetes and foot pain
- You are unsure whether it is shin splints or another problem
- You are changing your running shoes because of pain
- You are considering insoles or orthoses
- You have tingling, numbness or altered sensation
Please seek urgent medical advice if you have severe pain after an injury, cannot put weight through the leg, have sudden swelling or deformity, develop spreading redness, fever, pus, a deep wound or signs of infection.
You should also seek medical advice promptly if shin pain is very localised, worsening, painful at rest or painful at night, as this may need further investigation.
How Stuart assesses shin splints
Your appointment is designed to understand your symptoms and the demands being placed on your lower legs.
Stuart may assess:
- When your shin pain started
- Where the pain is located
- What brings symptoms on
- Running, walking or sport history
- Recent training changes
- Footwear and running shoes
- Lower-limb alignment
- Foot posture
- Strength and flexibility
- Calf and ankle function
- Gait where appropriate
- Training surfaces and recovery
- Whether referral or imaging may be needed
Gait analysis may be useful if your shin pain appears linked to how you walk or run. A biomechanical assessment may also help if symptoms are recurring, activity-related or influenced by how your foot and lower limb are loading.
Stuart will explain the findings clearly, so you understand what may be contributing to your shin pain and what options may be suitable.
Shin splints treatment options
Shin splints treatment depends on your symptoms, assessment findings, activity level and what you need to return to.
A plan may include:
- Load management
- Footwear advice
- Activity modification
- Running gait assessment
- Strength guidance
- Mobility or flexibility work
- Advice on training surfaces
- Gradual return-to-activity planning
- Foot orthoses where appropriate
- Referral if symptoms suggest stress injury or another concern
There is no single approach that suits everyone. The right plan depends on why your shin pain has developed, how irritable the symptoms are and what your lower leg needs to tolerate.
Orthoses are not needed for everyone. If Stuart thinks they may help support your foot function or reduce strain linked to loading patterns, he will explain why and talk through the options.
How to get rid of shin splints
Many people search for how to get rid of shin splints because the pain keeps interrupting running or sport.
It is important to be careful with quick-fix advice. Rest may settle symptoms in the short term, but pain can return if the reason for the overload has not been addressed.
Helpful steps may include reducing painful activity for a period, reviewing footwear, building strength gradually and returning to running in a controlled way. For some people, gait analysis or orthoses may be useful, but this depends on the assessment findings.
Stuart’s aim is to always understand what is driving your shin pain, rather than simply chasing short-term relief.
Shin splints and running
Running is one of the most common reasons people develop shin splints. Symptoms may start after increasing mileage, adding speed sessions, running hills, changing shoes, switching surface or returning after time away. Pain may appear during a run, shortly afterwards or the next day.
Stuart is a runner himself, so he understands how frustrating it can be when shin pain interrupts training. Your assessment may look at your running history, footwear, gait, calf function, recovery and how training load is being managed.
The goal is to guide practical next steps so you can return to activity where appropriate, without ignoring the factors that may have contributed to the problem.
Shin pain that may not be shin splints
Not all shin pain is shin splints. Other issues can cause pain in the lower leg, including stress injury, tendon irritation, nerve-related symptoms or pain referred from another area. This is why persistent, worsening or unusual shin pain should be assessed rather than assumed to be a simple training niggle.
A clearer understanding of the pain pattern, tenderness, activity history and movement can help guide whether podiatry treatment is suitable or whether further investigation may be needed.
Podiatry clinics in London and Surrey
Evolution Podiatry provides specialist foot, ankle and lower-limb care across London and Surrey. Choose the clinic that is most convenient for you, then book an appointment or speak to the clinic if you are unsure which location or appointment type is most suitable.
Notting Hill, W10
Specialist Podiatry care in Notting Hill for patients across West London.Wimbledon, SW19
Foot and lower-limb assessment in Wimbledon for patients across South West London.Woking, GU21
Podiatry appointments in Woking for patients across Surrey.
Meet Stuart Hodder
Stuart Hodder is a Specialist Podiatrist and the clinical lead at Evolution Podiatry. He works with patients experiencing foot, ankle and lower-limb pain, helping them understand what may be contributing to their symptoms and what the most suitable next step is.
His approach is calm, practical and personal. Patients see Stuart for clear explanations, careful assessment and treatment planning that is shaped around their symptoms, movement, footwear, activity level and goals.
Stuart has a particular interest in lower-limb function, biomechanics, gait analysis, sports and exercise injuries, child development and alignment concerns. This means he often looks beyond the painful area itself. His work involves assessing concerns such as heel pain, Achilles pain, shin splints, flat feet, sports injuries, gait problems, children’s foot concerns and orthotic needs.
- Specialist Podiatrist and a member of the Royal College of Podiatrists
- HCPC registered (CH14453)
- Experienced in NHS and private practice
- Strong interest in biomechanics and gait analysis
- Runner and cyclist with personal experience of injury and rehabilitation
- Registered and works with insurance medical providers
Shin splints FAQs
- Will I need gait analysis?
Not always. Gait analysis may be useful if your shin pain is linked to running, walking or recurring loading patterns. Stuart will explain whether it is appropriate for you.
- Will I need orthoses?
Not everyone with shin splints needs orthoses. They may be discussed if your assessment suggests they could help support foot function or manage loading.
- How long do shin splints take to improve?
Recovery varies. It depends on how irritable the symptoms are, what is contributing to the problem, how activity is managed and how your body responds to treatment.
- What causes heel pain?
Heel pain can have several causes, including plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendon irritation, bursitis, heel pad irritation, footwear, activity changes, overload or injury. Assessment helps clarify which factors may be involved.
- When should I seek urgent help for shin pain?
Seek urgent medical help if you have severe pain after injury, cannot walk, notice sudden swelling or deformity, have signs of infection or have pain that is worsening, very localised, present at rest or painful at night.
- Why do I have pain in the heel of my foot when walking?
Pain in the heel when walking may be linked to how the foot is loading, irritation of soft tissues, footwear, calf function or a change in activity. The location and pattern of pain can help guide assessment.
- What is a heel spur?
A heel spur is a small bony change near the heel bone. It may be seen on imaging, but it is not always the cause of pain. Stuart can explain whether it appears relevant to your symptoms.
- Can heel pain start suddenly without an injury?
Yes. Sudden heel pain without injury can happen after a change in load, footwear, activity or standing demands. If pain is severe, worsening or affecting walking, it should be assessed.
- Do I need gait analysis for heel pain?
Not always. Gait analysis may be useful if your heel pain is linked to walking, running or recurring symptoms. Stuart will explain whether it is appropriate for you.
- Will I need orthoses?
Not everyone with heel pain needs orthoses. They may be discussed if your assessment suggests they could help support foot function, loading or comfort.
- Is heel pain a sign of cancer?
Heel pain is usually caused by more common foot or lower-limb problems. Cancer is not a common cause, but unexplained, worsening or severe night pain should be discussed with a healthcare professional.
- When should I seek urgent help for heel pain?
Seek urgent medical help if you have severe pain after an injury, cannot walk, notice sudden deformity, have spreading redness, fever, pus, a deep wound or signs of infection.
- What are shin splints?
Shin splints is a common term for pain and tenderness along or near the shin bone. It is often linked to running, repetitive activity or training changes.
- What do shin splints feel like?
They may feel like aching, soreness, tightness or tenderness along the shin. Pain often appears during or after activity and may return when running or training increases.
- What causes shin splints?
Shin splints may be linked to sudden training changes, increasing running volume too quickly, hard surfaces, footwear, foot posture, lower-limb loading patterns, muscle weakness or reduced recovery time.
- How do I get rid of shin splints?
There is no guaranteed quick fix. Reducing painful load, reviewing footwear, improving strength and returning to activity gradually may help. Assessment can identify what may be contributing in your case.
- Can I keep running with shin splints?
That depends on your symptoms and assessment findings. If running is making pain worse or symptoms are not settling, it may be sensible to reduce or modify running until you have been assessed.
Insights
Helpful, plain English articles about foot pain, sports injuries, gait, children’s foot health and treatment options.
How your footwear can affect foot and lower-limb pain
Why does my foot hurt when I walk?
When should you see a Podiatrist for foot pain?
Book a shin splints assessment
If shin pain is affecting how you run, walk or train, an assessment can help identify what may be contributing to your symptoms.
Book an assessment with Stuart to understand what may be driving your shin pain and what the most suitable next steps may be.