The Best Ways to Treat and Prevent Shin Splints, According to Physical Therapists Emily Shiffer If you've ever had shin splints, you know how painful the condition can be. Unfortunately, the hurt you're feeling is usually a consequence of overtraining. "Shin splints (also known as Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome) is a painful syndrome that is often the results of a 'too much too soon' approach to training (in other words, overloading)," says Dr. Rachel Tavel, PT, DPT, CSCS, physical therapist at Shift Wellness in NYC. Shin splints are essentially caused by micro tears forming along the border of the tibia and lower leg muscles, where they attach to the bone.