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Can being overweight cause shin splints?

Author

Emma Payne

Published Jan 09, 2026

Increased body weight, being overweight, or obesity can lead to a higher risk of shin splints.

Can losing weight help with shin splints?

There is similar magnified stress on your other weight-bearing joints from excess weight. Losing weight will not only decrease the likelihood of suffering shin splints, but it is a key to avoiding achy, swollen, and stiff joints.

How do you prevent shin splints when overweight?

run and train on flat, soft surfaces, such as a recreation ground or playing field, whenever possible. introduce any changes to your activity level gradually. mix high-impact exercises like running with low-impact exercises like swimming. lose weight if you're overweight.

Why do I get shin splints so easily?

You get shin splints from overloading your leg muscles, tendons or shin bone. Shin splints happen from overuse with too much activity or an increase in training. Most often, the activity is high impact and repetitive exercise of your lower legs. This is why runners, dancers, and gymnasts often get shin splints.

What are 3 causes of shin splints?

Risk factors

You're more at risk of shin splints if: You're a runner, especially one beginning a running program. You suddenly increase the duration, frequency or intensity of exercise. You run on uneven terrain, such as hills, or hard surfaces, such as concrete.

24 related questions found

Can Walking cause shin splints?

Shin splints can become a sudden, unexpected pain in the shin when you start walking or running regularly. They can come on when you start dancing. They're also common to people new to the military with all the pack marching and drilling they have to do regularly.

How do you get rid of shin splints overnight?

How Are They Treated?

  1. Rest your body. It needs time to heal.
  2. Ice your shin to ease pain and swelling. Do it for 20-30 minutes every 3 to 4 hours for 2 to 3 days, or until the pain is gone.
  3. Use insoles or orthotics for your shoes. ...
  4. Take anti-inflammatory painkillers, if you need them.

Why are my shin splints not going away?

If your shins aren't rested after your shin splints are treated, then symptoms can easily show themselves again. Inflammation passes quickly, but the cause of inflammation does not. Recurring shin splints are common, and, without full treatment, there is a possibility for permanent injury.

What deficiency causes shin pain?

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with tibial bone pain and tenderness.

When should I be worried about my shin pain?

In many cases, a person with shin pain will not need to see a doctor. However, a person should seek immediate medical help if there is severe pain, swelling, and bruising, if the shin looks an unusual shape, or the person has heard a snapping sound. These could be signs of a fracture.

How long can shin splints last?

Shin splints often go away once the legs have had time to heal, usually in three to four weeks. Most people can resume an exercise program after their legs have healed. It takes longer to recover from a stress fracture, so it is best to have shin splints treated early.

How do I stop my shins from hurting when I walk?

Preventing shin pain when walking

  1. Make sure you have proper footwear with a good fit and support.
  2. Consider using orthotics, for foot positioning and shock absorption.
  3. Warm up before exercising. Be sure to stretch properly.
  4. Choose a good exercise surface. ...
  5. Avoid playing through the pain.

Can vitamin D help shin splints?

Medication and Supplements

According to research, one of the factors in shin splints is vitamin D deficiency. So, taking vitamin D supplements may help prevent the pain from recurring.

Why do shins ache at night?

When not enough blood is getting to your feet, this lack of circulation can cause pain in your leg muscles. People often help to alleviate this pain by hanging their legs over the side of the bed or standing up, which sends blood pumping back through the feet (thank you gravity).

What are the symptoms of very low vitamin D?

Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency can include muscle weakness, pain, fatigue and depression.
...
Can you ever have too much vitamin D?

  • Nausea.
  • Increased thirst and urination.
  • Poor appetite.
  • Constipation.
  • Weakness.
  • Confusion.
  • Ataxia (a neurological condition that may cause slurring of words and stumbling).

Are shin splints serious?

Also known as medial tibial stress syndrome, shin splints can be painful and disrupt training regimes. However, they are not a serious condition and may be alleviated with some simple home remedies. Shin splints are characterized by pain in the lower leg, on the front, outside, or inside of the leg.

Do shin splints show up on xray?

X-rays, bone scan, and MRI are often negative with shin splints, but they may help to differentiate shin splints from stress fractures. X-rays may demonstrate some generalized periosteal thickening.

Can I heal shin splints fast?

Shin splint pain may go away on its own if you're following a RICE protocol and stretching daily. To avoid reinjuring yourself, slowly and gradually return to your regular exercise routine. For example, if you're a runner, start by walking. If you can walk pain free for a few days, start jogging slowly.

Is a hot bath good for shin splints?

When dealing with this injury, ice and cold therapy is the only way to go! While heat can exacerbate inflammation, icing your shins several times a day can help to noticeably reduce pain and swelling.

Is Voltaren Gel good for shin splints?

Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory drugs (like Nurofen or Voltaren) can assist in speeding up recovery and may be recommended by your physio.

Can low calcium cause shin splints?

There are a few reasons runners might experience stress fractures or shin splints—ramping up your mileage too fast is one of them. However, if you're training the same way as you always have, but notice an uptick in bone-related injuries, a lack of calcium could be the culprit, says Kang.

Do compression socks help shin splints?

Compression socks can help with the symptoms of shin splints. The elasticated fabric provides gentle support for the lower leg, while adjustable straps over the tendons and muscles reduce pressure on the shin.

Do shin splints hurt when walking?

Symptoms: Lower leg pain while running, especially at faster speeds. Shin splints don't usually cause pain while walking or during daily, non-running activities. The pain often goes away once running is stopped.

Do shin splints hurt when resting?

Symptoms of shin splints generally get worse with activity and ease with rest. Pain may be worse when you first get up after sleeping as the sore tibialis muscle shortens while you rest, and it stretches painfully when you put weight on your foot.