Relieving Painful 'Shin Splints'.

In brief Shin splints, or more precisely, medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS), are painful and troublesome. Despite treatment or activity modification, they often recur. Distinguishing MTSS, the most common running overuse injury, from other overuse injuries can help focus treatment, which starts conservatively.

Expectations and satisfaction of runners with injury treatments.

Seventy-eight runners competing in three Iowa races were surveyed concerning their most recent running injury for which they sought medical care from a family physician, an orthopedic surgeon, or a podiatrist. Their reasons for choosing a doctor, expectations of care, and satisfaction with treatment received were assessed. Most patients selected the orthopedic (50%) or podiatric (42%) physicians upon the recommendation of other runners; only 13% of the family physicians were selected from recommendations.