The forearm compromises the lower half of the arm. It extends from the elbow joint to the hand, and it is made up of the ulna and radius bones. These two long bones form a rotational joint, allowing the forearm to turn so that the palm of the hand faces up or down. The forearm is covered by skin and two large arteries run the distance of the forearm – these are referred to as the ‘radial’ and ‘ulnar’.
Forearm splints are painful and frustrating injuries that occur most often in athletes, gymnasts, and weight trainers. This type of injury is due to tendons that are unable to stand the stress that is being placed on them. These tissues tear away from the bone or bones that they are attached to when a great amount of force is exerted on the muscles around the bones.
Also, this kind of splint is very similar to shin splints. Shin splints develop when the muscle and bone tissue (periosteum) in the leg become overworked by repetitive activity. Both conditions generally take about the same amount of time to heal (within a range of six to eight weeks).