Surface bone remodeling induced by the Distance-running and medial tibial stress syndrome (shin splints)

Abstract

We based on the theory of Cowin and Firoozbakhsh,(1981) and qualitatively studied the surface remodeling of tibia,induced by the distance -running. We showed that its periosteal and endosteal surfaces will move outwards and inwards respectively. The result predicts “Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome” ( M.T.S.S) or “Shin Splints”, an overuse injury of tibia (Hester, 2006; Romansky and Erfle, 2003; Magnusson et., al., 2003; Couture and Karlson, 2002; Walker, 1999; Bouche, 1999; Amendola et., al.,1999; Beck, 1998; Kaplan et., al.,1997; Monaco et., al.,1997)characterizing by a periosteal inflammation and decreased bone marrow density. M.T.S.S. occurs commonly in runners and due: i)to suddenly increase of the intensity or /and of the duration of training, ii) participation to a new activity, iii) poor footwear and iv) training to hard surfaces ( Hester,2006; Romansky and Karlson, 2003; Bennet, 2001; Kaplan et., al.,1997; Monaco et., al.,1997; Walker, 1999; Bouche, 1999; Amendola, 1999, Cook et., al.,1985). INTRODUCTION Living bone is continually undergoing processes of growth, reinforcement and resorption termed collectively “remodeling”. Accordingly to Frost (1964) there are two kinds of bone remodeling : internal and surface. Many theories of surface bone remodeling have been proposed (Gjelsvik,1973a and 1973b; Cowin and Van-Buskik,1979; Cowin and Firoozbakhsh,1981; Hart et., al.,1982; Hart et., al., 1984; Cowin et.,al., 1985). The purpose of this work is to qualitative study the surface remodeling of tibia, induced by the distance running. For that reason, we will use the propo-sed theory of Cowin –Firoozbakhsh (1981). BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF THE DISTANCE-RUNNING A person starts distancerunning and suppose that he (she) continues to be training with the same way, for a long time period. Initially the athlete was following a normal lifestyle, by walking with constant velocity vo. Consequently his (her) tibia was in a state at which no remodeling occurred, subjected only to a constant compressive load Go, due to the vertical component of ground reaction force, at late stance phase during walking. Accounting the data from Andriacchi et. al.,(1977); Rohrle et., al., (1984), neglecting the weight of the foot because is small (Harless,1860) and using a linear regression analysis, it is possible to obtain: