Shinbone Edge Syndrome

The tibial edge syndrome, also called medial (middle) or lateral (lateral) tibial edge syndrome depending on the location, is a disease that usually occurs in connection with sports activity. It describes load-dependent, dull or stabbing pain at the tibial edge. Particularly at risk are joggers or sportsmen and women who engage in intensive training in sports that place particular stress on the shin or foot muscles.

Several conditions can trigger the pain. The exact origin of the tibial edge syndrome is not conclusively clarified. Pronation movements of the foot, i.e. lifting of the lateral edge of the foot with simultaneous lowering of the middle edge of the foot, appear to be particularly conducive to tibial edge syndrome.

According to the current state of knowledge, the causes are mostly overstrain of the musculature, inflammation or injury to the muscle. Overstrain can result from a variety of sports. In the foreground, however, are running or ball sports with rapid changes of direction such as soccer or handball.

For untrained people, too intensive training can quickly lead to shin-edge syndrome. Experienced and trained athletes can also develop the disease as a result of rapid weight gain or a change of footwear. Often the pain occurs the day after the exercise.

If training is continued nevertheless, the training can also be painful. At the site of the heavy load on the shin bone, over time, periosteal inflammation can occur, for example of the shin bone. Especially amateur athletes tend to blame pain on overstraining the muscles.

If an inflammation of the periosteum is suspected, appropriate diagnostics using imaging procedures (magnetic resonance imaging) and subsequent therapy should be initiated immediately. Athletes in particular find the sometimes long-term impairment during training, which is explained by the slow healing of the disease, particularly stressful. The therapy itself is often unsatisfactory and the medical possibilities are sometimes limited.

The main focus is on sparing the affected extremity, which usually leads to a rapid improvement of the symptoms, which can, however, reoccur when the patient is subjected to renewed stress. The course of the disease can be influenced favourably by local cooling. In cases of severe pain, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen® can have an analgesic effect. The doctor can provide assistance and advice on the choice of insoles or supports to be worn in the shoe during training.