Introduction

An overuse injury is one that results from active participation in athletic activities for which the body is unable or unprepared to handle. One of the most common overuse injuries in sports, especially with runners, is known as "shin splint syndrome"-a generic term referring to a syndrome in which stress over time has caused injury to the lower leg. It is responsible for 18% of all overuse injuries and represents 4 to 13% of running injuries [1, 2]. Shin splints frequently occur in individuals who have recently begun running or who have increased their running regimen. Other athletes commonly afflicted with this injury include figure skaters and gymnasts.