Short-term effects of an innovative rehabilitation program (InnoRehab) on physical parameters in recreational runners with medial tibial stress syndrome

Abstract

Background: Medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS), or shin splints, is a common running injury caused by overpronation leading to tibial periosteum traction. The InnoRehab training program was developed to target biomechanical factors of MTSS. This study evaluates the short-term effects of InnoRehab on pain (VAS), center of pressure (COP), pain distance at the medial tibia, and flexor hallucis longus (FHL) strength and cross-sectional area (CSA) in MTSS runners.

Materials and Methods: Twenty runners with MTSS were randomly assigned to the InnoRehab group (n=10) or control group (n=10) for four weeks of exercises. Pre- and post-tests assessed VAS, pain distance at the medial tibia, COP, FHL strength, and CSA. Paired and independent t-tests analyzed within- and between-group differences, with statistical significance set at p<0.05 and a 95% confidence interval (95%CI).

Results: The InnoRehab group showed significant improvements in VAS during running (p<0.00, 95%CI -3.50 to -1.80), VAS rest (p=0.036, 95%CI -1.63 to -0.07), VAS after running (p<0.001, 95%CI -2.71 to -1.09), pain distance at the medial tibia (p=0.001, 95%CI -5.02 to -1.78), FHL strength (p=0.029, 95%CI 0.16 to 2.24), and CSA (p=0.012, 95%CI 0.08 to 0.51). The control group showed a significant reduction in VAS during running (p=0.020, 95%CI-2.41 to -0.27). Post-intervention comparisons revealed significant differences between groups for VAS during running (p=0.047, 95%CI -2.26 to -0.02) and CSA (p=0.003, 95%CI 0.28 to 1.16).

Conclusion: The 4-week InnoRehab program significantly improved pain and CSA of FHL in runners, suggesting its potential as the intervention for MTSS.