Factors Associated With Shin Soreness in Athletes

In brief: Twenty-five exercisers suffering from shin soreness were interviewed, examined, and monitored to identify factors associated with this injury. Twenty-five uninjured persons who matched the injured subjects in age, sex, and activities served as controls. Injured subjects had a greater range of subtalar joint motion and increased ankle dorsiflexion, reported a significantly lower calcium intake, had raised their training intensity before injury, and were using worn or poorly made shoes when injured. Factors not associated with injury included number of months subjects had participated in weight-bearing exercise, exercise surface, amount of stretching, height-weight ratio, and menstrual status. This study is the first to indicate a possible relationship between nutrition and shin soreness.