Kinesio tape?

JogiBear87

I've taken up running recently and found that towards the end of a run, I start to get shin splints and I was looking into some "cures" and prevention of shin splints and one of them was kinesio tape. I've seen it on athletes before and was just wondering if anyone knows if it is beneficial to runners who run every other day? And only short distances, too... Or whether it's a waste of money unless you're a professional or doing it more seriously than I am?

Any advice?

Scherzie

I use kinesiotape quite often when running, as do a couple of my friends and it has been extremely helpful!! With that being said, the kinesiotape has to be applied correctly to the area that is the true cause of the pain in order for it to work. For example; I had started to get pain in my lower leg that was caused from my patella not tracking correctly, applied tape to mechanically correct the knee and.....no more lower leg pain! I say that it can't hurt to try but make sure that you watch some videos on the technique for the application that you are looking for, there is some finesse to get the correct application but if it is working you will feel the difference immediately.

MeanderingMammal

I've taken up running recently and found that towards the end of a run, I start to get shin splints

That doesn't sound like shin splints, but it's not out of the question that it's just a bit of muscular soreness. If you do suffer from shin splints then once you've developed the problem you'll notice it walking, and from the beginning of your run.

Notwithstanding that, the only way to really deal with shin splints is to deal with the underlying cause. while tape can help it does depend on it being applied correctly, following a diagnosis, and is only a temporary palliative.

Regardless of the cause of your pain there are a few things to look at:

Are your shoes appropriate to your gait, properly fitting and not lifed out. Over-rponators can be prone to shin splints and benefit from a support or motion control shoe, eqally shoes have a life of 300-500 miles until they start to break down and contribute to injury.

Muscular imbalance between the calf and the shin - can be treated with exercise that trengthens the shin muscle

Running form - Try to plant the foot just ahead of the body mass, and push forward rather than landing with the foot far in front and puling yourself forward. the latter places excessive rotational forces on the lower leg and contributes to a number of potential injuries.

Mileage/ speed increases - should be kept to no more than 10% increase per week.

I trust that helps