ABSTRACT
Exercise-induced leg pain is a common presenting complaint among athletes. Previously, the general term of ‘shin splints’ was used to describe the common complaints of exercise-induced leg pain. Over time, study of this problem has led to the description of specific clinical syndromes associated with this common complaint. A systematic approach to diagnosis can be aided by thinking of the different pathologies and the associated tissue types. For instance, nerve-related pain may present at a site remote from the actual pathology due to the longitudinal nature of
the structure of a nerve, whereas pain and tenderness from a tibial stress fracture will be very focal. A list of the common causes of exercise-induced leg pain and the associated tissues is provided in Table 78.1.
