Why Runners Get Shin Splints and How Physical Therapy Can Help

Can running cause shin splints?

Yes—and physical therapy is one of the most effective ways to treat them. Shin splints are one of the most common running injuries, especially during training peaks or race prep. Left unaddressed, they can linger for weeks or lead to more serious issues like stress fractures. The good news: physical therapy offers a non-invasive, proven path to relief and a safer return to running.

When shin pain hits mid-run, it’s not just soreness—it’s your body warning you. At Victory Performance in Culver City, we help runners fix the movement problems that lead to shin splints before they turn into something worse.

What Are Shin Splints?

Shin splints—formally known as medial tibial stress syndrome—refer to pain and inflammation along the inside of the shinbone (tibia). In runners, the pain is typically triggered by repetitive impact forces and muscle overuse. It often starts as a dull ache during or after a run and progresses to more persistent discomfort with activity.

Common causes in runners include:

• A sudden increase in mileage or intensity

• Running on hard or sloped surfaces

• Worn-out shoes with poor shock absorption

• Weak hips and core muscles

• Limited ankle mobility or improper running form

These issues cause the lower leg muscles—especially the posterior tibialis and soleus—to work harder than they should, placing excessive strain where they attach along the shin. When a key muscle like the posterior tibialis is under this kind of repeated strain and isn't strong enough to handle the load, shin splints often follow. Targeted strengthening is essential to address this. The video below demonstrates an eccentric exercise for the posterior tibialis, a specific technique to build its resilience and help it better manage the demands of running:

Effectively performing and progressing exercises like this, as part of a comprehensive plan, is where expert guidance can make all the difference in your recovery and a safe return to running.

Why Physical Therapy Is the Right Choice

Shin splints are a movement-related injury. That means treating them effectively requires more than rest and ice—it requires a structured, expert-guided approach to movement, strength, and load management.

At Victory Performance and Physical Therapy in Culver City, we specialize in helping runners resolve shin splints and return to training stronger than before.

Our physical therapy treatment may include:

• Movement assessment to identify the root cause (not just the symptoms)

• Targeted loading for the posterior tibialis and calf complex to rebuild tissue tolerance

• Manual therapy to reduce tightness and improve ankle mobility

• Core and hip strengthening to reduce lower leg overload

• Running form analysis and gait retraining

• Return-to-run progression tailored to your training schedule and race goals

Experiencing shin pain that won’t go away? Call 424-543-4336 to book your evaluation at Victory Performance and Physical Therapy. We specialize in helping runners stay on track.

Improving your ankle's range of motion is a critical first step, but it's only half the battle. To truly resolve shin splints and prevent them from coming back, your body needs to learn how to effectively control that new-found mobility, especially during dynamic activities like running. This is where developing ankle motor control becomes essential. The video below explains this concept, why it’s so important for runners, and how it relates to the function of your calf muscles during gait

At Victory Performance and Physical Therapy, we focus on ensuring that any gains in flexibility are translated into better movement patterns and strength through your full range, helping you run safer and stronger. This control is a key component of successful gait retraining.

Clinical Signs to Watch For

Runners with shin splints often notice:

• Pain along the inner shin that worsens with activity

• Discomfort when standing on tiptoes or dorsiflexing the foot

• Stiffness during warm-ups or after rest

• Pain that starts mild and escalates with more running

If you’re feeling any of these symptoms, especially during a training build, it’s time to get assessed by a licensed physical therapist.

A Real Victory Patient Success Story

Maddie, a first-time marathoner, came to Victory just three weeks before her race with persistent shin and knee pain. Our team developed a custom pre-race plan to reduce stress on her shins while keeping her race-ready. With the right mobility work, strengthening, and race-day prep, she not only made it to the start line—she crossed the finish feeling strong.

This is what effective, runner-specific physical therapy looks like.

Why Treating Shin Splints Early Matters

Shin splints are more than a nuisance—they’re a red flag. If untreated, they can progress into stress reactions or fractures, requiring months off from running. Early physical therapy intervention can:

• Shorten recovery time

• Prevent worsening injuries

• Improve running mechanics

• Build long-term durability

And because every runner’s body and training history is different, generic solutions rarely work. Victory’s approach is tailored to you—your goals, your symptoms, your timeline.

For a comprehensive approach to staying injury-free year-round, check out our complete guide to preventing running injuries, which covers strength training, load management, and gait optimization strategies every runner should know.

Shin splints don’t have to derail your training. Whether you’re preparing for your next race or just want to run pain-free, the team at Victory Performance and Physical Therapy in Culver City can help.

Call 424-543-4336 or contact us to book your appointment online and get back to the miles that matter.