Shin Splints, someone help?

I used to suffer from these quite badly, it is a really annoying injury! I found that doing all sorts of other training (including more resistance training) helped, along with losing a good amount of weight.

The combination of stronger supporting muscles and less weight (impact stress) did the trick for me.

Too much too soon maybe? This hasn't happened to me in a long while, because I'm very careful now, but when I get the slightest notion of shin splints I STOP running immediately. I then become a hiker instead of a runner for a while until I'm sure I'm ok. For me, there is no "working around" shin splints. If I get bad ones, I just need to take time to heal and it can take weeks. I think they can turn into fractures if you keep running and push yourself through the pain. I injured my knee (overuse injury) as a young person because I thought I could just push through the pain. It took months to heal - almost a year if I remember correctly - and I thought I might never run again. Years later, here I am running and no sign of knee trouble - but I am still cautious.

The best way to avoid them (for me personally) is to make sure I have properly fitted shoes, take things slow at first, and increase distances and paces gradually over time. With shin pain, make sure you are putting ice on your shins, maybe a compression wrap as well, and keep them elevated. Try doing gentle calf stretches. And don't run until the pain is gone. When you start up again, take it nice and easy.

Good luck! :flowerforyou:

If you go to The running bug..if you are in the UK or runners world if not, they explain in detail shin splints. There is actually three injuries that come under the "shin Splint" umbrella..You must rest them.R.I.C.E. Rest Elevation,Compression,Ice. They do not get better if you keep exercising on them . It is inflammation , I get them that is why I cannot run . Also the proper shoes (trainers) for your feet. get a gait analysis done . hope this helps.

It could well be your running gait - if your foot is not landing dead centre as it hits the floor. I used to over-pronate and that caused me to get shin splits. Look at old shoes and see where the sole is worn away, this should give you a clue. Apart from focusing on that, you may be trying too much too soon - try just walking quickly for a week or two, and then progress up to slow jogging, see if that helps.

I have suffered from shin splints for years. I think part of the problem is that I have a mild case of bowing in my legs. The shin splints got so bad that I needed physical therapy. However, I did learn ways how to prevent them.

First, you'll want to rest your legs until the shin splints are no longer there. In the meantime, if you have access to a gym, use the elliptical or bike for your cardio workouts. Make sure to ice them daily as it will help significantly with the pain. Definitely look in to new running shoes. There are stores in my area where they'll evaluate you and give you the perfect type of shoe for you. You'd be surprised how big of a difference it is. Slowly increase your distance, don't over-do it. One last thing that has helped me BIG time is compression sleeves. I have ZERO pain after my run. I spent about $25 for the pair and it was the best investment I made.

Make sure you stretch as well. Hip-flexor moves & calf stretches definitely help.

Good luck!

i share your pain and i'm an experienced runner. any number of things can cause it--increasing intensity, speed, or frequency of your runs. running on a hard surface, improper form, or bad shoes.