Shin splints
Aching along the shin from running or impact, common when training ramps up.
By Andrew Ellis, AHPRA registered physiotherapist · Reviewed July 2026
What it is
Shin splints is pain along the inside edge of the shin bone, common in runners and in anyone who has ramped up impact activity quickly. It comes from overload of the muscles and tissue along the shin, and it eases with the right load management and strengthening.
Signs and symptoms
Everyone is different, but these are common with shin splints. You may have some and not others.
How physiotherapy helps
We assess your shins, calves and how you load them, settle the pain, and build a calf and lower leg strengthening program. We guide a sensible return to running and impact so the tissue is not overloaded, and rule out other causes of shin pain if needed.
- Lower leg assessment
- Settle pain and load
- Calf and lower leg strengthening
- Running and impact load advice
How we treat it
The right mix depends on your assessment. These are the services we most often draw on for this.
Exercise and rehabilitation
Tailored programs to rebuild mobility, strength and confidence in the movements that matter to you.
Learn more →
Sports injury physiotherapy
Physiotherapy to treat your sports injury and get you back to training and competing, with the strength and control to stay there.
Learn more →
Soft tissue release
Skilled hands on work through muscles, tendons and ligaments to ease tension and restore flexibility.
Learn more →
Trigger point dry needling
Fine needles into trigger points to release muscle tension and ease referred pain. A core focus at PACT.
Learn more →
What you pay, with or without cover
Every appointment is a full, unhurried session with the time to work through complex, persistent problems. The fee is $165 for an initial visit and $142 for a follow up, and if you have Medicare, private health extras or an accepted claim, here is what you pay.
Paying privately
No referral or paperwork needed. Every visit is a full, unhurried session with the time it needs.
With a Medicare plan
A GP Chronic Disease Management referral rebates $61.80 on every visit, up to 5 a year.
With private health extras
Claim on the spot through HICAPS. The gap depends on your fund and level of cover. See all health funds
Workers comp & CTP
Accepted workers compensation and CTP claims are billed straight to your insurer, and we handle the paperwork.
Every bar is drawn to the same scale, from $0 to the standard fee. Private health gaps vary with your fund and your level of extras cover.
Other problems we help with
Pain rarely sits in one neat box. These are commonly linked, and we treat them all.
Good to know before you book
Can I keep running with shin splints?
How much will it cost?
Do I need a referral?
Can it be managed by telehealth?
Read more on this
Plain English articles from our physiotherapist, written to answer the questions we get asked most.
Sources and further reading
Written and reviewed by Andrew Ellis, AHPRA registered physiotherapist. Last reviewed July 2026.
This page is general information about shin splints, not a diagnosis or a substitute for an assessment. If you are concerned about your symptoms, book an appointment or see your GP.
See what people say on Google
We let our patients speak for themselves, on Google, where you can read it independently.
Read our Google reviewsGet on top of shin splints
Same day appointments often available at our Miranda clinic, or by telehealth across Australia.