Research could help runners get rid of shin pain
Claudia Doman
21 April 2014: Runners afflicted by shin pain could be back on the trail sooner thanks to a new treatment being developed by University of Canberra researchers.
Assistant professor in physiotherapy Phil Newman and colleagues are working on a new way to use sound to treat one of the most common running injuries, ‘shin splints’, or medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) and are looking for runners to help them test it.
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UC phyisotherapist Phil Newman is testing the use of soundwaves to treat shin splints. Photo: Michelle McAulay |
“Every runner knows about shin splints, they have been the scourge of runners for years and there isn’t an effective, established treatment for this condition, which affects one in three runners,” Mr Newman said.
“Once you get MTSS, it’s hard to get rid of it and in many cases, the pain not only disrupts training but it can even affect everyday activities.
“If we can finally treat this very common injury, we can get more people out enjoying the health benefits of running.”
Until now, there hasn’t been any successful treatment for the condition. But Mr Newman and his team are looking at using concentrated pulses of sound to fix the problem.
“This treatment known as extracorporeal shockwave therapy uses soundwaves to make the injury repair itself by triggering the body’s natural repair response.
“This therapy has been successfully used for the treatment of tendon injuries in the heel, foot and shoulder for many years with an extremely low rate of side effects,” Mr Newman said.
“Our research suggests it will be effective in treating the shin splints and we’re looking for runners to volunteer to be part of a trial to test this.”
Mr Newman is looking for participants to take part in this study which will investigate the effectiveness of extracorporeal shockwave therapy versus a placebo therapy in those affected with MTSS.
To take part in the study, participants need to be 18 years of age or more and suffer from shin pain as a consequence of exercise.
If interested in participating in the study and for more information on it, please contact Mr Newman via email: healthclinic@canberra.edu.au
