Forearm splints are a lesser-known overuse injury — essentially the forearm’s version of shin splints. They cause aching pain in the forearm from repetitive weight-bearing and gripping and are most common in gymnasts. So what are forearm splints, and how do we treat them?
What are forearm splints?
Forearm splints are an overuse injury of the forearm, thought to involve irritation of the lining of the bone (the periosteum) and the connective tissue between the two forearm bones, from repeated loading. The mechanism mirrors shin splints in the leg: repetitive stress at the muscle–bone junction causes a dull, aching pain.
They’re classically seen in gymnasts, whose forearms bear weight and absorb impact during tumbling, vaulting, and pommel work — but they can affect anyone doing heavy, repetitive gripping or weight-bearing on the arms.
What causes forearm splints?
The usual cause is a sudden increase in training load involving forearm weight-bearing or gripping. Contributing factors include:
- A rapid rise in gymnastics volume or intensity
- Repetitive impact through the forearms (tumbling, vaulting, pommel horse)
- Poor technique or wrist position
- Insufficient recovery between sessions
Symptoms of forearm splints
Typical features include:
- A dull, aching pain in the forearm, often in the middle or lower part
- Pain brought on by weight-bearing, gripping, or twisting the forearm
- Tenderness along the forearm bones
- Pain that eases with rest early on, but becomes more persistent if training continues
What else could it be?
Because forearm pain can have several causes, it’s worth considering other possible problems. These include a forearm stress fracture (a more focal, sharper pain), forearm tendinopathy, a nerve entrapment, and — where pain builds predictably with exercise and eases with rest — chronic exertional compartment syndrome. Getting the diagnosis right guides the treatment.
How are forearm splints diagnosed?
Diagnosis is mainly clinical — the typical aching forearm pain in a gymnast or heavy upper-limb athlete, with tenderness along the bones. Investigations help exclude other causes:
- Ultrasound — assesses the soft tissues and tendons
- MRI — the most useful test, showing the bone-stress changes and excluding a stress fracture
- X-ray — often normal, but can show a periosteal reaction or exclude other bony problems
How are forearm splints treated?
As an overload injury, forearm splints respond to load management rather than injections:
- Relative rest — reducing the aggravating weight-bearing and gripping while symptoms settle
- A graded return — progressively rebuilding forearm loading, guided by symptoms
- Addressing the cause — training load, technique, and wrist position
- Strengthening and conditioning — of the forearm, wrist, and grip, to build tolerance
- Physiotherapy — to guide the rehabilitation and return to sport
Most gymnasts recover fully with sensible load management. Persistent or focal pain that doesn’t settle should be re-assessed, mainly to exclude a stress fracture.
Frequently asked questions about forearm splints.
Are forearm splints the same as shin splints?
They’re the forearm equivalent — the same kind of overuse, bone-stress problem, but in the forearm rather than the shin. The mechanism (repetitive loading irritating the bone lining and connective tissue) and the management (load reduction and a graded return) mirror shin splints. The main difference is simply the location and the activities that cause it.
Why do gymnasts get forearm splints?
Because gymnastics loads the forearms in a way few other activities do — the arms bear weight and absorb impact during tumbling, vaulting, and pommel work. That repeated stress, especially with a rapid increase in training, is what triggers forearm splints, much as running triggers shin splints.
How long do forearm splints take to settle?
With sensible load management, they usually settle over a few weeks to a couple of months, depending on severity and how well the aggravating load is reduced. A graded return is important — coming back too quickly tends to bring the pain back. Focal pain that doesn’t settle should be checked for a stress fracture.
When should I worry about forearm pain?
If the pain becomes sharp and focal (pinpoint), rather than a diffuse ache, or doesn’t settle with rest, it’s worth being assessed to exclude a stress fracture. Nerve symptoms (tingling, numbness) or pain that builds predictably with exercise and eases with rest (suggesting compartment syndrome) are also reasons to seek assessment.
Final word from Sport Doctor London about forearm splints
Forearm splints are the forearm’s version of shin splints — an overuse, bone-stress injury from repetitive weight-bearing and gripping, seen most often in gymnasts. They respond well to load management and a graded return, rather than injections. Persistent or focal pain should be re-assessed to exclude a stress fracture, but most cases settle with sensible rehabilitation.
If you have persistent forearm pain, Dr Masci can assess you in London, including ultrasound in clinic. Contact the team here or call +44 (0) 203 488 0350.
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