The shin is part of the lower limb, located in its lower part between the ankle and knee joints. It consists of both the tibia and fibula bones, and the entire muscle complex. Pain in the shin may be the result of overload, injury or, in extreme cases, fracture. Sometimes, however, persistent shin pain is a symptom of bone cancer.

Shin , commonly known asdrumstick,is an anatomical element of the lower limb. Its structure resembles the bones of the forearm. Shin pain may indicate normal overload, be a symptom of an injury, but also herald more serious diseases, such as cancer of the tibia. Therefore, it should not be taken lightly and in the case of prolonged shin pain consult a specialist doctor.

Shin - what is it and where is it located?

The shin is part of the lower limb, also called the shin. It is located between the ankle joint and the knee joint. The shin consists of two bones:

  • tibia
  • and fibula.

They are connected by the tibiofibular joint, the interosseous membrane and the tibiofibular ligament.

Shin - tibia

The tibia (Latin tibia) is the base of the shin and most of the body weight rests on it. It is connected to the femur by two knuckles and joints.

The tibia lies on the medial side of the shin and consists of a shaft and two ends - proximal (distal) and distal (proximal).

A characteristic feature of the tibia is the lack of the so-called the head, which is found in most of the bones of the human body. The end closest to the tibia is part of the knee joint. The distal end, on the other hand, is covered with cartilage and forms the ankle joint.

In addition, here are the anterior cruciate ligaments, the posterior cruciate ligaments and the patella. The shaft of the tibia has three edges - anterior, lateral and medial. In addition, the tibia has three surfaces - medial, lateral and posterior, to which muscles are attached.

Shin - fibula

The fibula (Latin fibula) is located on the lateral side of the shin, below the lateral condyle of the tibia. It consists of a shaft and a proximal (also known as the head) and distal parts (also known as the lateral malleolus).

Like bonetibial, the shaft of the fibula has three surfaces and three edges. The proximal part is the head with the articular surface for connection with the tibia (tibio-sagittal joint).

The distal end, on the other hand, extends from the medial malleolus and ends with the apex, which is the attachment of the calcaneofibular ligament.

Shin - muscles

A whole set of muscles is attached to the shin bones. The shin muscles are divided into three groups:

  • anterior group - the extensor muscles of the foot that attach to the lateral surface of the tibia
  • back group - flexors, which contain the strongest of the shin muscles, e.g. the triceps muscle of the calf
  • side group - fibula muscles that convert the foot, e.g. short and long fibula muscles

Shin - pain

Pain in the shin may occur as a result of:

  • intense physical effort, e.g. long training sessions without regeneration
  • not warming up and stretching before training
  • incorrect body posture during exercise
  • physical trauma e.g. as a result of a fall
  • posture defects, e.g. incorrect position of the pelvis, flat feet
  • standing for long periods, e.g. standing work
  • wearing incorrectly selected shoes

Shin pain can result from both an injury and diseases in the bone and / or muscle tissue. The hallmark of shin pain is that it gets worse with movement. In addition, the pain may be accompanied by swelling, bruising, hematomas and inflammation of the shin.

Shin bones are particularly prone to injuries, such as fractures, as they are poorly protected by muscle and fat tissue.

In addition, shin pain may be caused by:

  • Fascia tightness syndrome
  • osteitis
  • periostitis
  • bone cysts
  • bone tuberosity
  • bone cancer

Shin pain is quite common among people who practice sports such as running, basketball, soccer, dancing, tennis and athletics. Among the runners, the so-called shin splints, or "shin pain in runners".

It is worth noting that the pain in the shin may indicate a simple overload of this part of the limb, but also more serious diseases. Therefore, you should not ignore the pain in your shin and consult a specialist doctor who will order a series of diagnostic tests to make an accurate diagnosis.

Shin - pain treatment

When the pain in the shin results from overload caused by e.g. too strenuous activitytraining, usually rest, massage, cold compresses, painkillers and anti-inflammatory ointments are enough.

However, when the pain does not pass within a few days and also occurs at rest, it may require consultation with a specialist doctor who, depending on the diagnosis, will order appropriate pharmacotherapy, physical therapy (e.g. ultrasound) or, in extreme cases, refer the patient for a surgical operation.

  • Why do legs hurt? Common causes of leg pain
  • Shin pain - when walking, running - causes

Category:

Anatomy