You can feel the pain of shin splints on the front, inside, or back of your leg. In extreme cases pain is felt before, during, and after exercise. This is caused by repetitive pounding of the feet during running sports like aerobics, basketball, and volleyball. Stress fractures appear as tiny cracks in the lower leg bones. They may occur when muscle strength is exceeded, or when muscle contractions bend the bones.
Stress fractures are common in distance runners and ballet dancers.
People with thin bones are at greater risk. During exercise, the muscles of some people swell with blood more than is normal. This puts pressure on surrounding nerves and the blood supply. Tightness, numbness, and tingling in the lower leg are signals that a medical emergency has developed. If left untreated, long-term loss of mobility in the leg may result.