Shin Splints - Day off or power through?

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MJKing2
MJKing2 Posts: 177
in Fitness and Exercise
I know that there are probably posts out there with this same question but to be perfectly honest I'm in a little pain and too tired to search through them right now. :yawn: So... here's my question:

I have been working out everyday since last Monday, so 10 days. Always at least 30min of cardio (usually walking and jogging) and then sometimes I add a fitness DVD and Tuesday and today I added Zumba (90 min Tuesday, 60 today). I pretty much just through myself in. I haven't actually worked out in probably a year...a little here and there, but nothing significant.

Tonight my shins are killing me! I was sore last week, but nothing that held me up. Tuesday night my shins were hurting but I powered through and just did a 30min cardio walk on Wednesday. Today I did my 30min cardio walk, a 15 min pilates workout, to stretch before Zumba, and then my 60min Zumba class. I made it through 20 min before I felt like my shins were on fire! I kept at it just not at full strength. My feet pretty much stayed on the floor but I kept moving. By 45 min in I kicked off my shoes and it helped some. Obviously, I think I've narrowed down my pain to my shoes. Ironically enough they were shoes I bought that were advertised as being the "best for Zumba". Go Figure!

Now to my actual question: Do I power through or do I give my body a rest? Should I just try to get in my 30min cardio tomorrow or push myself to add more?

Thanks in advance for your support and advice!
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Replies

  • JBennis1013
    JBennis1013 Posts: 377 Member
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    I'd say that you need to rest. You don't want to over due it and wind up injuring yourself.
  • RaeN81
    RaeN81 Posts: 535 Member
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    Give it a rest and maybe do some upper body work or swim some laps. You aren't doing yourself any favours by compounding your injuries.
  • bunnysone
    bunnysone Posts: 486 Member
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    day off, without question. Ice them regularly elevate your legs - STAY OFF THEM.
  • NoAdditives
    NoAdditives Posts: 4,251 Member
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    You should rest until you're healed. And you should also have at least one day of rest each week, two is better. Your body needs time to recover and repair itself from the strain of exercise. If you don't rest you're more likely to get burned out quickly or get injured.
  • avninjalette123
    avninjalette123 Posts: 129 Member
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    Give it a rest for a day or two....Then when you start up again, wrap your legs in ace bandages. I got them really really bad at first..I almost went to the ER. The ace bandage seemd to help A LOT.
  • mark50674
    mark50674 Posts: 6
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    Get some good cross training shoes and rest your shins. Don't mess around with shin splints.
  • young1726
    young1726 Posts: 347 Member
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    It's typically a good idea to add a day of rest in at least once a week.
  • 1113cw
    1113cw Posts: 830 Member
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    Rest is definitely in order or you risk really injuring yourself! In terms of running, never power through pain. Best idea.. R.I.C.E.

    Rest
    Ice
    Compression
    Elevate
  • kmeekhof
    kmeekhof Posts: 456 Member
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    rest, at least your legs. Get in a pool if you can. Ice your shins and always stretch after you workout! Some good exercises to help are standing on the edge of a stair and just going up and down (toe raises) or picking marbles up with your toes from one pile and putting them in another.
  • arc918
    arc918 Posts: 2,037 Member
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    do something that doesn't hurt your shins - maybe ride a life cycle or something
  • jennro7781
    jennro7781 Posts: 208
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    I just had this exact problem. REST, REST, REST!!! I wouldn't do ANY working out tomorrow and maybe even the weekend. Then ease back into it (after you get fitted for new shoes!). I went the to the New Balance store to be fitted properly and then purchased what they recommended online for $60 cheaper at KellysRunningWarehouse.com. As for the pain now, try ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) and sleeping with a pillow under your legs. You can also try gently massaging your legs but this didn't work for me as my shins were so sore I couldn't even touch them!

    Good luck!!
  • parvati
    parvati Posts: 432 Member
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    You're body needs rest! If you do not take a day off you will probably find yourself injured!
    You will find that you will get better results if you take regular days off!
  • jennro7781
    jennro7781 Posts: 208
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    rest, at least your legs. Get in a pool if you can. Ice your shins and always stretch after you workout! Some good exercises to help are standing on the edge of a stair and just going up and down (toe raises) or picking marbles up with your toes from one pile and putting them in another.

    Also "drawing" the alphabet with your toes in the air.
  • kmeekhof
    kmeekhof Posts: 456 Member
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    In terms of running, never power through pain.

    Depends on the pain. Shin splints no... as you can risk getting stress fractures.
  • tmcowan
    tmcowan Posts: 322 Member
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    No question....You need to rest. If you push through you may be making things worse.
  • skillen
    skillen Posts: 8
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    rest...like the one person said R.I.C.E..... I have what I belive is shin splints too...I have change my work outs to every other day it's helped alot...I can go full throttle those days and rest really rest on the middle day.
  • jeslawson
    jeslawson Posts: 6
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    I was doing the same , I was on the tredmill and working out to Jillians Banish Fat, Dvd....
    I have been a Catcher my whole life in fast pitch softball and my Shins Never hurt like
    they do now, Other than working on the farm I have even taken a few days off and it even hurts to walk.

    I dont know what else to do ?
  • NitaCB
    NitaCB Posts: 532 Member
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    You've probably been trying to do too much too soon, especially if you hadn't been doing much beforehand. Our bodies don't always like a shock to the system. I would suggest going to a specialist sports shop and getting shoes fitted for you by a professional.
    I'm struggling with a similar thing at the moment. It's not technically shin splints cos it's on the front side of my shins, but just as horrible. It got bad last Saturday, running on Sunday didn't help either. So I've been avoiding the running and icing and massaging my legs daily. Slowly getting better...I hope!
  • NitaCB
    NitaCB Posts: 532 Member
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    You've probably been trying to do too much too soon, especially if you hadn't been doing much beforehand. Our bodies don't always like a shock to the system. I would suggest going to a specialist sports shop and getting shoes fitted for you by a professional.
    I'm struggling with a similar thing at the moment. It's not technically shin splints cos it's on the front side of my shins, but just as horrible. It got bad last Saturday, running on Sunday didn't help either. So I've been avoiding the running and icing and massaging my legs daily. Slowly getting better...I hope!
  • Sarahland
    Sarahland Posts: 65 Member
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    Definitely rest. My partner had shin splits when she played soccer and she would always power through them. It gave her compartment syndrome in her legs and she had to have surgery. Not fun. Take care of your body for sure

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