Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome Needs a New Name-Make No Bones About It

Abstract

SYNOPSIS: Pain near the posteromedial tibia is common in running and jumping athletes. This problem has had many names, with "shin splints" and "medial tibial stress syndrome" (MTSS) the most common. The term shin splints is nonspecific and nondescript, and has never gained clinical traction. Similarly, the clinical use of MTSS with athletes and coaches is often met with confusion as "tibial stress" is frequently misinterpreted as indicating a bone stress injury. With no conclusive evidence regarding the pathophysiology of MTSS, we advocate renaming it "Load Induced Medial-Leg Pain" (LIMP). LIMP avoids the use of "tibial stress," which is problematic due to the unknown pathology of the condition and its confusion with bone stress injury. Using the term LIMP instead of MTSS gives clinicians, researchers, and athletes a clearer, more accurate way to approach managing exercise-related lower leg pain. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2025;55(10):1-2. Epub 18 August 2025. doi:10.2519/jospt.2025.13411.

Keywords: bone; lower leg; medial tibial stress syndrome; running; tibia.