Sports Can Cause Serious Foot Problems Including Shin Splints

If you love running or taking part in organized sports, you’re at risk for shin splints, knee pain, Achilles tendonitis, and other lower body injuries. Medial tibial stress syndrome, as it is called by the Mayo Clinic, is a pain that goes down the length of the shin bone and is caused by too much pressure on the bones, muscles, and ligaments of the lower extremeties. This stress can be brought on by running activities in any setting and can be made worse by flat feet and insufficient foot arch support.

Leading sports therapists advise using ice, resting from running or sports, and using better shoes, preferably in conjunction with sport insoles. Applying ice to the shin and adjacent structures in the lower leg help ease pain while lowering the amount of swelling promptly after an injury. Relaxation is always recommended because it allows for the repair of tendons, muscles, and bones. Finally, wearing better shoes can radically help prevent re-injury to the lower legs and feet by providing sufficient cushioning and support for the arches. This encourages correct foot position and resists shock. Sports insoles can significantly enhance performance and endurance because they supply foot arch support and additional cushioning. For people with flat feet, these specialized sport insoles raise the arch ideally and rebalance the lower body.

Over-pronation due to flat feet can cause more than just shin splints to occur. Plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, knee, ankle, and low back pain, as well as Achilles tendonitis can be attributed to flat feet. If sport insoles are not used during physically stressful activities, re-injury and serious foot issues can occur. The workings involved in these ailments are related to the plantar fascia tendon, which is the key structure involved in the foot arch. It is an elastic structure that stretches to absorb the shock presented when the foot bears weight during activity. In people with flat feet, this tissue is too long and has lost its elasticity. Its capability to absorb shock has disappeared. This condition also causes over-pronation of the foot, or the inclination for the ankles to roll toward the center of the body. The weight of the body is then abnormally concentrated on one region rather than being equally distributed over the entire area of the foot. This is the reason why sports insoles can make all the difference in cases of flat feet and other foot conditions; they provide support and cushion in the right places.