MESSINA, Italy, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- A high-resolution CT scan can accurately show medial tibial stress syndrome, or shin splints, in distance runners, according to researchers in Italy.
Researchers at the University of Messina used high-resolution CT scans of both tibiae -- shin bones -- on 41 subjects: 20 distance runners with no symptoms of shin splints, 11 distance runners with pain due to shin splints and 10 volunteers not involved in a sport.
A total of 82 shin bones, 14 painful and 68 painless, were evaluated, and among the distance runners CT abnormalities were found in 14 of 14 painful tibiae in patients with shin splints.
"The study demonstrates that CT is capable of revealing cortical abnormalities in medial tibial stress syndrome, thus representing a reliable diagnostic tool in patients with leg pain," said lead author Dr. Fabio Minutoli.
"The results are useful for the management of athletes, particularly long distance runners. Moreover, we think that CT can be used in research studies, to evaluate other subtle bone abnormalities; for example it can be useful in studies concerning osteoporosis."
The study appears in the American Journal of Roentgenology.
