By Zolene, Massage Therapist · Updated 15 July 2026
Shin splints, properly called medial tibial stress syndrome, affect an estimated up to 20% of runners, and calf strains are common enough that risk rises noticeably with age, since the calf loses roughly 1% of its force-producing capacity every year past 30. Most of what runners feel between sessions is ordinary soreness that settles with basic recovery, but shin and calf pain specifically deserve a closer look, because both can turn into a longer-term problem if you train through them without understanding why they're happening.
- Medial tibial stress syndrome (shin splints) affects an estimated up to 20% of runners generally
- Shin splints are more common in women than men, and are the third most common running injury behind ITBS (IT band injuries) and calf injuries in marathon-specific samples
- Calf strain risk rises with age, as calf strength declines by roughly 1% per year from age 30
- Sudden increases in training distance or intensity are consistently the biggest risk factor across running injuries
- The 10% rule for increasing weekly mileage applies just as much to runners as to cyclists
In This Article
- Shin Splints: What They Actually Are
- Calf Strains and Why Risk Rises With Age
- Ordinary Post-Run Soreness or Something Worse?
- What Actually Helps Between Runs
- IT Band Syndrome: The Third Common Complaint
- Frequently Asked Questions
Shin Splints: What They Actually Are
Medial tibial stress syndrome, better known as shin splints, causes pain and tenderness along the inside or front of the shin bone. It's believed to result from repeated microtrauma and strain on the periosteum, the membrane covering the tibia, causing an inflammatory response as the bone struggles to keep up with repetitive loading. Research estimates it affects up to 20% of runners generally, and it's more common in women than men.
Sudden increases in training distance, a change to a harder running surface, and switching to minimalist footwear without a proper adjustment period are the most consistently cited risk factors. It's an early-stage overuse injury, and left unaddressed it sits on the same continuum that leads toward tibial stress fractures, which is worth taking seriously rather than just pushing through.
Calf Strains and Why Risk Rises With Age
Calf strains in runners most often involve the deeper calf muscles, and this pattern is associated with the longest return-to-running times. Age is a genuine, measurable risk factor: plantar flexor force production, the calf's ability to push you forward, declines by roughly 1% per year from age 30 onwards, alongside reductions in step length and Achilles tendon stiffness.
Practically, that means mature runners benefit more from dedicated calf strength work than younger runners might need, simply to offset a decline that's happening whether you notice it or not. A previous calf strain is also one of the strongest predictors of a future one, so proper rehabilitation after the first matters more than most runners realise.
Ordinary Post-Run Soreness or Something Worse?
General leg soreness the day after a hard or long run is ordinary DOMS, covered fully in my DOMS explainer. It builds gradually, feels like a dull ache across the whole muscle, and eases with gentle movement over a few days.
Shin and calf pain deserve more scrutiny than general soreness because both sit at the start of a spectrum that can become a genuine stress injury. Pain that's sharply localised to one spot on the bone, that doesn't improve with rest, or that starts affecting your gait is worth having assessed rather than managed around indefinitely.
What Actually Helps Between Runs
Consistent basics do more for injury prevention than any single recovery product: the 10% rule for weekly mileage increases, proper footwear for your running surface, and calf and lower-leg strength work built into your week rather than only running.
| Symptom | Likely cause | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Pain along the inner shin | Shin splints (medial tibial stress syndrome) | Reduce mileage, review footwear and surface, rest if it persists |
| Sharp calf pain during a run | Calf strain, often soleus-based | Stop running, see a physio, proper rehab before returning |
| General leg ache the next day | Ordinary DOMS | Hydration, gentle movement, a cooling application for comfort |
| Recurring calf tightness, age 40+ | Age-related decline in plantar flexor strength | Dedicated calf strengthening, not just stretching |
This is where I reach for Muscle Mint after my own runs. It won't rebuild a stressed shin or repair a calf strain, but the strong menthol cooling tingle gives genuine comfort to ordinary post-run tightness while your body does the actual repair work.
A cooling menthol lotion in a sunflower oil base, designed to aid relief for sore muscles and joints.
IT Band Syndrome: The Third Common Complaint
Iliotibial band syndrome rounds out the trio of running complaints alongside shin splints and calf strain, and in one study of recreational marathon runners it was actually the single most commonly reported issue, ahead of both. It causes pain on the outside of the knee, and it's now understood less as simple friction and more as irritation of the fatty tissue underneath the band, worse with repeated knee bending at the same angle, mile after mile.
Women are around twice as likely to develop ITBS as men, largely down to differences in hip and knee angles during running. Runners who go on to develop it also tend to show altered hip and knee mechanics compared with those who don't, and that altered pattern can persist even once the pain has settled, which is part of why it has a reputation for recurring.
When shin, calf, or knee pain needs assessment, not just rest
Pain that's sharply localised to one spot on a bone, that persists or worsens over more than a week of reduced training, that changes your gait, or that's accompanied by visible swelling all warrant a physio or GP assessment. None of the three conditions on this page reliably resolve just by pushing through them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How common are shin splints in runners?
Research estimates medial tibial stress syndrome, commonly called shin splints, affects up to 20% of runners generally, and it's more common in women than men. Some marathon-specific samples report considerably higher rates.
Why do calf strains get more common as runners get older?
Plantar flexor force production, the calf's ability to push you forward with each stride, declines by roughly 1% per year from age 30. This makes dedicated calf strength work increasingly important as runners get older, not just stretching.
Can I keep running through shin splints?
Mild cases sometimes settle with reduced mileage and attention to footwear, but shin splints sit on the same continuum as tibial stress fractures if ignored. Persistent or worsening shin pain is worth having assessed by a physio rather than pushing through.
What's the single biggest risk factor for running injuries?
Sudden increases in training distance or intensity are consistently cited as the biggest preventable risk factor across running injury research. The 10% rule, increasing weekly mileage by no more than 10%, gives tissue time to adapt rather than overloading it.
Why am I more likely to get IT band syndrome than a male running partner?
Women are roughly twice as likely to develop IT band syndrome, largely due to differences in hip and knee angles during running rather than any difference in training habits. It's a genuine biomechanical factor, not a sign you're doing anything wrong.
Why does IT band syndrome keep coming back?
Runners who develop ITBS often show altered hip and knee mechanics that can persist even after the pain settles, which is why it has a reputation for recurring. Addressing the underlying movement pattern, not just resting until the pain goes, is usually what breaks the cycle.
Related Reading
- Why Do Muscles Hurt Two Days After a Workout? DOMS Explained
- The Active Recovery Protocol: How to Bounce Back Faster After Leg Day
- Ice or Heat for Back Pain? Best Relief vs Use Ice
Comfort for Tired Legs
Muscle Mint combines peppermint, eucalyptus, and a strong menthol cooling tingle in a gentle lotion for sore muscles and joints. Made in Larne, Northern Ireland.
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Written by Zolene
Zolene is a massage therapist with over 15 years of clinical experience. She created Muscle Mint in Larne, Northern Ireland, for the minutes after effort.
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