Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome
Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS) is more common in athletes and runners who participate in high-impact sports or activities that involve a lot of running and jumping, such as runners, football, and basketball players. It also affects all types of professional and amateur dancers.
Up to 35% of runners develop MTSS, and they and anyone else developing it feels pain in the legs often following exertion. Initially this feels worse at the start of exercise, gradually subsides during training, and may stop minutes after exercise. However, later, pain may be felt with less activity and may even occur while resting.
MTSS is commonly referred to as ‘shin splints’ – it is an injury usually caused by frequent overuse or repetitive-stress injury of the lower leg(s) and by repetitive stress on the tibia and surrounding muscles, tendons, and bones, leading to inflammation and small tears in the tissue. While the exact cause of MTSS is not fully understood, it is believed to be related to biomechanical factors, such as overpronation (when the foot rolls inward excessively), weak or tight muscles in the legs, and training errors.
MTSS It is also more frequently suffered by women rather than in men and also by people with flat feet or high arches, while women have a greater risk for the progression of MTSS to stress fractures.
Other risk factors include increasing exercise intensity too quickly, running on hard or uneven surfaces, wearing worn-out shoes, and having a history of previous injuries to the lower legs.
While it can be painful, for athletes it can be also be a debilitating condition that means they are temporarily unable to participate in their sport until treatment is undertaken.
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Achilles Tendonitis
Back Pain
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Dupuytren’s Disease
Golfer’s Elbow
Gout
Hip Pain
Knee Calcification
Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome
Morton’s Neuroma
Osgood-Schlatter Disease
Patellar Tendinitis – Jumpers Knee
Pseudarthrosis
Scar Tissue Treatment
Shoulder Calcification
Shoulder Tendinitis & Bursitis
Stress Fractures
Tennis Elbow – Lateral Epicondylitis
Therapy for Diabetics with Frozen Shoulder
Trigger Finger
Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome Treatment
Physiotherapy
Traditionally, physiotherapists will treat Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome using a combination of methods.
Rest is an essential component of treating MTSS. Our physio therapists may recommend that you take a break from the activity that caused the injury, such as running or jumping. They may also recommend modifying the activity to reduce stress on the affected area. This may involve switching to low-impact activities such as cycling or swimming.
Stretching and Strengthening Exercises – are an essential component of MTSS treatment. We will recommend an exercise program tailored to your specific needs and goals. The exercise program may include:
Stretching exercises: to improve flexibility and reduce tension in the muscles surrounding the tibia bone.
Strengthening exercises: to improve the strength of the muscles in the lower leg and foot. Strong muscles can help support the tibia bone and reduce the risk of future injuries.
Balance and coordination exercises: to improve proprioception and reduce the risk of falls and other injuries.
Manual Therapy – techniques such as massage and myofascial release may also be used to treat MTSS. These techniques can help reduce tension in the muscles surrounding the tibia bone and improve circulation to the affected area. While in some case we a may recommend orthotics or bracing to help support the foot and reduce stress on the tibia bone.
We will now use all of the above techniques in combination with Shockwave Therapy and EMMT therapy.
Shockwave Therapy for Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome
Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive medical treatment that involves the use of acoustic waves to treat various musculoskeletal conditions, including MTSS. During the treatment, a handheld device is used to deliver high-energy acoustic waves to the affected area. These acoustic waves stimulate the body’s natural healing response and improve blood circulation to the affected area, promoting the regeneration of damaged tissue.
We have been using Shockwave therapy to treat MTSS for several years now and our own research and experiences with patients has been positive and is backed up clinical research.
Shockwave Therapy & Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome Research
A number of clinical studies have been undertaken into the effects of Shockwave Therapy in the treatment of Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome. One such study was published in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy in 2015. The study involved 31 participants who were randomly assigned to receive either shockwave therapy or a placebo treatment. The participants received three sessions of shockwave therapy or placebo treatment over a period of three weeks.
The results of the study showed that the participants who received shockwave therapy had a significant reduction in pain and an improvement in function compared to the placebo group. The study concluded that shockwave therapy was an effective treatment option for MTSS.
Another study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine in 2016 investigated the use of shockwave therapy on MTSS in military recruits.
The study involved 56 participants who were randomly assigned to receive either shockwave therapy or a placebo treatment. The participants received three sessions of shockwave therapy or placebo treatment over a period of three weeks and found that just a single application of focused shockwave treatment in combination with a specific exercise programme accelerates clinical and functional recovery in military cadets with MTSS.
These studies are in line with our own experience of successfully treating patients with MTSS.
Electromagnetic Transduction Therapy (EMTT) is a non-invasive medical treatment that uses a pulsed electromagnetic field to stimulate the body’s natural healing response. During the treatment, a specialized device is used to deliver high-intensity electromagnetic waves to the affected area. These waves stimulate the body’s natural healing response, improving blood circulation and promoting the regeneration of damaged tissue.
EMTT works by generating electromagnetic fields that penetrate the skin and underlying tissues. These fields can stimulate the production of growth factors and other signalling molecules that promote tissue repair and regeneration. EMTT can also help reduce pain and inflammation by increasing blood flow and reducing the activity of pain receptors in the affected area.
EMTT Therapy for Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome
We now have several years of experience using EMTT therapy for the treatment of Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome.
Clinical Trials on the Use of EMTT in Treating MTSS
Several clinical trials have been conducted to investigate the effectiveness of EMTT in treating MTSS. One such study was published in the Journal of Athletic Training in 2020. The study involved 20 participants who were randomly assigned to receive either EMTT or a placebo treatment. The participants received three sessions of EMTT or placebo treatment over a period of two weeks.
The results of the study showed that the participants who received EMTT had a significant reduction in pain and an improvement in function compared to the placebo group. The study concluded that EMTT was an effective treatment option for MTSS.
Another study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy in 2020 investigated the use of EMTT in combination with exercise therapy for the treatment of MTSS. The study involved 30 participants who were randomly assigned to receive either EMTT plus exercise therapy or exercise therapy alone. The participants received six sessions of EMTT or exercise therapy over a period of three weeks.
The results of the study showed that the participants who received EMTT plus exercise therapy had a significant reduction in pain and an improvement in function compared to the exercise therapy alone group. The study concluded that EMTT in combination with exercise therapy was an effective treatment option for MTSS.
We are one of the few clinics in the country offering these combinations of treatments. That’s why we recommend you visit us if you have any problems with MTSS so that we can ascertain the problem and treat it quickly before it becomes worse. Numerous clients of ours have overcome MTSS problems in record time with focused Shockwave treatment plus Magneto transduction therapy and been able to return to their sporting activities or normal way of life.
ABOUT SHOCKWAVE CLINICS
Shockwave Clinics Ltd is the leading shockwave clinic in London and the UK with the most advanced and comprehensive range of shockwave and complimentary technologies, including magneto transduction therapy and radio frequency.
For over 10-years we have been using Focused Shockwave to treat numerous muscular problems caused by sports injuries as well as back pain, problems caused by invasive surgery and simple old age.
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EMTT Therapy for Dupuytren’s Disease
We are now using ElectroMagnetic Transduction Therapy (EMTT) in conjunction with Shockwave therapy as we have found the combination of the two treatments especially effective for dealing with Dupuytren’s Disease.
EMTT is a non-invasive treatment that uses electromagnetic waves to stimulate healing in the affected area. The treatment works by producing a pulsed electromagnetic field that penetrates the tissues of the shoulder joint and stimulates cellular activity. This increased cellular activity can help to reduce inflammation, increase blood flow, and promote tissue repair, all of which can improve the symptoms of Dupuytren’s Disease.
While clinical trials specifically investigating EMTT as a Dupuytren’s Disease treatment are limited, the therapy has shown promise in treating other fibrotic conditions and soft tissue disorders. In a clinical trial published in “Lasers in Medical Science” in 2019, EMTT was found to be effective in reducing pain and improving hand function in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, another condition affecting the hand’s soft tissues.
One of the major advantages of EMTT is that it is a non-invasive treatment that does not require any medication or surgery. This makes it a safe and convenient treatment option for patients who are looking for a non-invasive alternative to more invasive treatments.