What are Shin Splints?

QUESTION: What are shin splints and how do I deal with them?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANSWER: Shin splints are one type of overuse injury, but one that is often
misunderstood or misdiagnosed. The condition may actually be a group of
syndromes rather than just one, but most physicians agree that it is stress
injury to the muscles and tendons in front and behind the tibia bone of the
shin. It may be caused by muscle imbalance between the strong muscles of the
calf and the weaker muscles of the shin.
The pain of shin splints starts out mild, gets worse during exercise such
as running or aerobic dance, and goes away with rest. In most people, shin
splints come on after weeks of repetitious exercise, but cases have been known
to appear after one very intense exercise session by an untrained person.
Rest is the best remedy for shin splints, since it allows the inflamed
tendons and muscles to heal. This should be followed by muscle strengthening
and flexibility exercises for the entire lower leg.