shin splints

American  

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. a painful condition of the front lower leg, associated with tendinitis, stress fractures, or muscle strain, often occurring as a result of running or other strenuous athletic activity, especially on a nonresilient surface.

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shin splints British  

noun

1. (functioning as singular or plural) a painful swelling of the front lower leg, associated with muscle or bone inflammation, and common among athletes and other sportspeople

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Etymology

Origin of shin splints

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

shin splints

A potential future major contender missing from this year's Wimbledon is 21-year-old American Sebastian Korda, who pulled out on Monday because of "terrible shin splints and beaten-up feet".

From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2022

Open champion Curtis Strange used to leave the tournament with shin splints.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 6, 2022

It can be so disappointing for someone when they get excited about running and then they get something like a bone stress injury, what’s colloquially referred to as shin splints.

From New York Times ● Jan. 9, 2022

Their most common complaints are knee or hip problems, shin splints and plantar fasciitis, which causes sharp pain in the arch of the foot or heel.

From Washington Post ● May 29, 2020

It’s hard to stay grumpy around Teddy, and I don’t have time to wallow about shin splints for the time being because keeping up with him takes every bit of my energy.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison