Shin splints (Medial Tibial Periostitis) is the name often given to exercise-induced pain in the lower leg, specifically along the front of the leg between the knee and the ankle (the shin).
The exact cause of shin splints is not certain but they tend to be as a result of overuse and typically occur in runners.
Shin splints are really a symptom rather than a specific diagnosis because they are probably caused by a number of different problems. Shin splints are one of the most common problems in the lower leg in people who exercise or play sports.