Restoring Human Movement Bye-Bye Shin Splints: Dr Mandy's Expert Guide for Runners
Jul 31, 2025
Dr. Mandy Wainfan, a sports medicine expert and former track athlete, shares her personal journey with shin splints and how it fueled her passion for helping runners. She defines shin splints and breaks them down into four key subcategories, making it easier for listeners to understand their pain. Mandy discusses the hop test for diagnosing conditions, dispels common myths about shin pain, and emphasizes the importance of accurate assessments and treatment methods for recovery, especially for trail and ultramarathon runners.
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Shin Splints Is A Vague Label
- 'Shin splints' is a vague diagnosis that only means pain along the shin and doesn't explain the underlying cause.
- Breaking it into subcategories reveals specific physiology and guides proper treatment.
Mistaken Tendon Diagnosis
- Mandy recounts thinking she had posterior tibialis tendinitis but later learning it was less common than online suggests.
- She describes how posterior tibialis pain can feel creaky and sharp, especially with ankle movement or hopping.
Use The Hop Test
- Do a hop test (start double-leg, then single-leg) to help differentiate posterior tibialis involvement from other causes.
- Note sharp pain on hop suggests recent tendon irritation needing targeted evaluation.