Tibial periostitis, one of the most common injuries in athletes

Tibial periostitis is a problem of those athletes who focus their work on speed races due to excessive use of the tibia, since they carry their weight on the knees and lower part of the leg. In this post we tell you what symptoms a person with tibial overload presents and what the best treatment for it is.

What is tibial periostitis?

The tibia is one of the longest bones in our human body after the femur and makes up the lower extremity. Frequent shin pain, also known as tibial periostitis It is the inflammation of the periosteum, a membrane that protects the tibia and unites it with the gastrocnemius. This is a common pain that long-distance runners produce.

Types of periostitis

We can talk about two types of periostitis depending on the bone affected. The posterior tibial periostitis It is one that comes from the posterior region of the tibia and is caused by an overtension of the posterior tibia, the soleus muscle and the common flexor of the fingers, affecting those people who, when planting their foot on the ground, do so. They turn inwards and the weight rests on the internal part of the plant.

On the other hand, the anterior tibial periostitis It is the most common condition that usually occurs in runners and athletes who carry out sports activities on hard terrain or with steep slopes.

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In both cases, it will be necessary to make a prior diagnosis before chronic tibial periostitis occurs, which requires more complex treatment.

What are the causes of tibial periostitis?

Like other injuries, tibial periostitis does not have a single cause, but rather the factors are diverse. The lifestyle of many people favors the manifestation of this injury. Spending many hours standing when working and performing movements that are repeated over and over again, called repetitive strain injuries, are some of the most frequent causes that cause the appearance of tibial periostitis.

Tibial periostisis in runners

As has been mentioned previously, it is a injury that affects the vast majority of athletes and sportsmen. When athletes' footwear is not appropriate or worn, there is a greater risk for them to cause tibial periostitis.

Training on hard surfaces, such as asphalt, causes excessive traction on the periosteum. Likewise, training through downhill races favors the appearance of said injury. Therefore, it is important to control the technique when running and training and not exceed the intensity and volume of the training, giving importance to correct muscle preparation before starting to practice sports activity, involving the muscles and tendons of the foot and leg.

It is also necessary to take into account one's own biomechanical defects that occur in the foot and in the body load. The shape of the foot and its excess pronation, which we know as fallen arches, make it another cause that occurs in runners.

Symptoms of tibial stress

People who suffer from tibial periostitis trauma initially present pain in the shins, but as it progresses, they feel a swelling of the muscles and bones on the inside of the leg and an overload on the calves or shins. Continuous pain in the tibia can progress and cause a stress fracture.

This discomfort appears when starting to walk and training, which can limit the person's running and training, and gradually disappears when the person stops walking and rests.

Treatment of the periosteum of the tibia

Given all these symptoms, to prevent tibial periostitis it is recommended to change certain habits as much as possible.

In the case of athletes, they must take care of their routine when training, without overloading the leg muscles and performing stretching exercises both at the beginning and at the end of training. Reducing the load is highly recommended to prevent the periosteum injury from becoming worse.. Avoid to a large extent all those activities that cause pain in the shin, but do not completely break your routine, since it can later become a problem.

As preventive techniques for biomechanical imperfections, it is recommended to perform a gait analysis and be able to correct or minimize bad habits when running or standing.

The use of the Compressive bandages and ice massages for about 15 minutes they can help alleviate the symptoms of tibial periostitis, relieving pain and reducing swelling of the periosteum.

A previous study using imaging studies for tibial periostitis that are carried out at Clínica Elgeadi is of special importance to be able to continue with your daily routine.

How long does tibial periostitis take to heal?

The period it takes for a patient to recover from tibial periostitis depends on the severity of the pathology, so an exact time cannot be estimated.

We recommend going to expert professionals in tibial periostitis that can help you treat your periosteum injury and shorten recovery times from periostitis pathology through prior diagnosis and treatment that is completely tailored to you. At Clínica Elgeadi we have advanced technology, which accelerates the recovery process of our patients.

Home exercises for tibial periostitis

To somehow relieve the pain caused by tibial stress, we recommend doing a series of exercises at home.

Calf Stretch for Periostitis. Facing a wall, stretching your arms and resting your hands on the wall and position your legs so that one is further forward. The leg close to the wall should be slightly bent, while the one behind it will be completely straight. Now lean forward and hold this position for a few seconds. Repeat this stretch 3 times.

Common Toe Extensor Self-Stretch. Sit on a chair and rest your foot on the knee of your other leg. With your hand, grab your toes and try to bring them towards the sole of your foot. Hold the position for about 30 seconds and repeat this exercise 3 times.

Walking on your toes and heels for about 2 minutes can also help stretch the periosteum. Manual therapy is another option, so you will have to grab your leg and feel for the knots, applying some pressure for a few minutes.

With all this, we now know that it is a trauma that appears to a greater extent in athletes. If you suffer from some of the symptoms of tibial periostitis, you should go to professional traumatologists for a correct examination, diagnosis and the most accurate treatment in each case. You can make an appointment at our clinic or write to us with any questions you may have.