Tom, Dick and Harry Found Guilty for Shin Splints
Hello! I'd like to talk about three muscles responsible for supporting the arches of the feet that are located in the deep posterior compartment of the lower leg: Tibialis Posterior (Tom), Flexor Digitorum Longus (Dick) and Flexor Hallucis Longus (Harry).
"Tom" (The Tibialis Posterior) runs from the proximal Posterior Tibia and Fibula to the Plantar Surface of the Foot, and it plantarflexes the foot at the ankle joint and inverts the foot at the tarsal joints.
"Dick" (The Flexor Digitorum Longus) attaches from the middle Posterior Tibia to the Plantar Surface of toes 2 to 5.
It flexes those toes at their Metatarsophalangeal Joints and the Interphalangeal Joints, it flexes the foot at the ankle joint and inverts the foot at the tarsal joints.
"Harry" (Flexor Hallucis Longus) has its origin in the Distal Posterior Fibula and ends on the Plantar Surface of the Big Toe.
Harry flexes the big toe, plantarflexes the foot at the ankle joint and inverts the foot at the Tarsal Joints.
This is quite a strong muscle.
Harry can help with propulsion when we push off the floor just by flexing our toes when we walk, run and even jump.
Tom (the Tibialis Posterior muscle) is the major suspect for a condition called Shin Splints, very common with runners.
Dick (Flexor Digitorum Longus) and Harry (Flexor Hallucis Longus) may also be involved in this crime as they could also be getting tight and not helping to support the arches of the feet.
Shin Splints is a general term for all types of pain that you may feel around the front and inside of the shin bone.
When you start or add more exercises to your normal routine, the compartments of the lower leg (where each muscle sit inside the calf area) may become tight and that is the reason for all the pain.
Tightness will cause weakness in the muscles, they stop performing properly and the structure fails to support the body.
Usually the arch collapses and Tom, Dick and Harry can no longer help support the arches.
They become very painful and only massage may help alleviate the pain.
Some Physiotherapists and Podiatrists will suggest the use of orthotics to support the arches.
Something you can do when the pain comes in the middle of an exercise is to loosen up your laces to promote circulation and help take the pressure off the calves.
After the exercise you will need to rest, ice, compress and elevate your foot to help reduce the inflammation in the area.
Massage will only be beneficial when the inflammation is gone, so make sure you ice the area at least 3x a day, 5 minutes on, 5 minutes off for 4x.
So now we understand why Dick, Tom and Harry are not guilty for Shin Splints.
The actual criminal is the human who doesn't respect the limits of the body and is lazy when it comes to looking after themselves.
For more information on my work please visit http://www.
remedial-massage.
com.
au/waterloo
"Tom" (The Tibialis Posterior) runs from the proximal Posterior Tibia and Fibula to the Plantar Surface of the Foot, and it plantarflexes the foot at the ankle joint and inverts the foot at the tarsal joints.
"Dick" (The Flexor Digitorum Longus) attaches from the middle Posterior Tibia to the Plantar Surface of toes 2 to 5.
It flexes those toes at their Metatarsophalangeal Joints and the Interphalangeal Joints, it flexes the foot at the ankle joint and inverts the foot at the tarsal joints.
"Harry" (Flexor Hallucis Longus) has its origin in the Distal Posterior Fibula and ends on the Plantar Surface of the Big Toe.
Harry flexes the big toe, plantarflexes the foot at the ankle joint and inverts the foot at the Tarsal Joints.
This is quite a strong muscle.
Harry can help with propulsion when we push off the floor just by flexing our toes when we walk, run and even jump.
Tom (the Tibialis Posterior muscle) is the major suspect for a condition called Shin Splints, very common with runners.
Dick (Flexor Digitorum Longus) and Harry (Flexor Hallucis Longus) may also be involved in this crime as they could also be getting tight and not helping to support the arches of the feet.
Shin Splints is a general term for all types of pain that you may feel around the front and inside of the shin bone.
When you start or add more exercises to your normal routine, the compartments of the lower leg (where each muscle sit inside the calf area) may become tight and that is the reason for all the pain.
Tightness will cause weakness in the muscles, they stop performing properly and the structure fails to support the body.
Usually the arch collapses and Tom, Dick and Harry can no longer help support the arches.
They become very painful and only massage may help alleviate the pain.
Some Physiotherapists and Podiatrists will suggest the use of orthotics to support the arches.
Something you can do when the pain comes in the middle of an exercise is to loosen up your laces to promote circulation and help take the pressure off the calves.
After the exercise you will need to rest, ice, compress and elevate your foot to help reduce the inflammation in the area.
Massage will only be beneficial when the inflammation is gone, so make sure you ice the area at least 3x a day, 5 minutes on, 5 minutes off for 4x.
So now we understand why Dick, Tom and Harry are not guilty for Shin Splints.
The actual criminal is the human who doesn't respect the limits of the body and is lazy when it comes to looking after themselves.
For more information on my work please visit http://www.
remedial-massage.
com.
au/waterloo