Periostitis – causes, symptoms and relief support
Shin splints are an overuse injury that causes pain along the inside of the shinbone. The problems affect both exercisers and athletes and are often related to increased training volume, changing surfaces, or incorrect loading of the foot and lower leg.
What is periostitis?
Periostitis is an irritation or inflammation of the periosteum around the muscles on the inside of the lower leg. The condition is common in runners and others who exercise with repetitive loads. The pain often occurs during activity, subsides with rest, but returns with repeated exercise. The cause may be overload, anatomical factors such as pronation/supination, or inadequate equipment such as unstable shoes.
Common causes & risk factors
Periostitis is often caused by overtraining, rapidly increasing training volume, or switching between hard and soft surfaces. Anatomical factors such as overpronation or supination of the foot can create misalignment and contribute to the problems. Unstable shoes or inadequate shock absorption also increase the risk. Even hypothermia during cold seasons can worsen the symptoms.
Symptoms
- Pain along the inside of the shinbone during activity
- Tenderness and pressure pain locally on the lower leg
- Heat increase and sometimes swelling in the affected area
- Increasing pain with increased load
- Alternating symptoms with better and worse periods
When should you seek medical attention?
If the pain does not subside despite rest and self-care, or if the problems worsen and prevent you from everyday activities, you should contact healthcare.
Recommended protection & support
Recommended protection & support is based on relieving the affected area and correcting the underlying causes. Shock-absorbing and stable shoes reduce incorrect loading, while pronation or supination insoles can correct incorrect foot positions. Compression calf protection helps increase circulation, reduce pain and keep the lower leg warm. A gradual increase in training, preferably with alternative forms of training such as cycling or swimming, relieves the lower legs further. Preventive measures such as proper warming up, gradual increase in training volume and the right choice of shoes are crucial to avoid recurring problems. See all our products for legs, thighs and calves here .
About our Injury Guide – quick guidance in case of complaints
In our Injury Guide, you will receive clear and easy-to-understand information about common injuries, how they occur and what symptoms usually occur. You will also receive recommendations on which protection and aids can relieve your discomfort and help you further in your rehabilitation. All information is based on expert knowledge from our licensed physiotherapist.
For more information about leg, calf and thigh problems, you can read more in the Injury Guide Legs, and you can also go to the Injury Guide main page to read about other injuries and symptoms.
Related injuries:
Find the right protection for your needs
There are several ways to find the right product on our website. For a more personalised selection, you can use our filters and sort by injury, body part or sport. You can also get help from our AI assistant Eir, who is trained on all the content on our website and can help you with product recommendations, fit questions and order-related concerns – 24/7. If you would rather speak directly to our licensed physiotherapist Ida , you can reach her via email or phone for personal advice and support in your product selection.
