Can't jog due to shin splints - help please!

Aqua jogging? Either just walking or running in the pool or put on a flotation belt and hop in the deep end and "run" its easy on the joints.

If the pain is in the front of your shin, try looking up tibialis anterior workouts/stretches. I have noticed a lot less soreness after doing them for a while.

Also, make sure you are running with proper form. This video explains it pretty well in my opinion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J-7beA-daw

I think this is key. I recommend tptherapy.com

Good shoes (not Chuck Taylor's!), good insoles, stretch your calves, front of the calves, quads and hamstrings before running.

Strengthen the front of your calf with reverse calf raises: http://exrx.net/WeightExercises/TibialisAnterior/BBReverseCalfRaise.html. High reps, 15 to 20 reps, three sets, two to three times a week.

Use elliptical or cycle, or walk uphill or on an incline.

I would look into Dr. John Sarno (do a search for his books on Amazon). He'll help with your shin splints. Also, running is a crap exercise. Get a pull up bar, some kettle bells, and find a different form of cardio that you like.

Excuse me? Running is a crap exercise? Since when? Since when is the best way to get outdoors, think about life & get a damn good workout a crap exercise? Not everyone wants or can do pullups or use a kettle bell. Think about that next time you insult every single runner out there.

Hello!

I meant that I had changed my shoes - how would I know if they weren't suitable as they feel fine and supportive?

I was new to running, yes. I had never run before in my life so I started the couch to 5k and I managed to get to, I think, week 5/6? But the increase was too much for me so I stopped, then I started running on the treadmill in the gym in shorter bursts. So I'm pretty new to running, yes. I can walk fine, I just find it extremely boring.

I have started using the cross trainer which I know is low impact, but I want to be able to sort out the shin splints so I am able to run, not just avoid it altogether. I really dislike the cross trainer as well. I don't know how, but I get so out of breathe on there compared to other things I use in the gym and can't do it for long - any advice on this?

I mostly use the bike in the gym which I do enjoy using and can stay on there for a long time and appears to be burning a lot of calories (according to the machine) but I feel it's not changing my body shape or helping me lose any weight/tone up, which I think running would help with.

I usually do weights before I start and sometimes the bike and I also start with a warm up walk so I'm not just diving straight into the running. I will have to try doing more stretches aimed at my lower legs though - I'll try the ones in that link, thanks!

Just because your shoes feel like they give you the correct support when you are standing or walking does not necessarily mean they will give support for your particular running gait. If you go to a store that specializes in running - they can *kitten* your gait and tell you if the shoes you have are correct for your movement.

As you can tell by the number of responses that echoed mine - a great number of people experience shin pain when they first start running - it is not necessarily a bad thing - any more than muscle soreness is after you first start lifting. They key - as others have said - is to decide whether it is debilitating or just something you need to work through. As for doctors - there's an old joke - A man goes into a doctor and says I've broken my arm in three places, the doctor responds "Well stay out of those places!" (Groucho Marx I think) The point is - unless you go to a doctor who specializes in sports medecine or a physio - the diagnoses you will get is to stop doing what causes the pain.

Learn what your body is telling you - that, for me - is part of the fun of exercise. I ran this morning on the treadmill - 5 min at 6mph, then intervals - 1min at 7.5mph, back to 6pmh for 1 1/2 min, repeat until 30 min flies by. I'm 52 - I've been running on and off for 30 years - I know my body and what it can do. I know when to push and when to listen. It takes a while - but you'll get there.

Check out runnersworld.com - always helpful info.

Chi Running and proper shoes. Made all the difference in the world with being able to run or not.

^^ This. Or natural running, short mid-/fore-foot strides, it's called a lot of things. I had the same issues and now run 100+ miles/month.

Here's my story if you're interested:http://goo.gl/fPnm1J

Go get 'em!!!

Keep moving, slow down, drink lots of water.

If you can's talk to someone while running you are going to fast (as a beginner)

I found using C25K app (couch to 5km) helped me big time with my shin splints.

the more you use your legs the less likely the shin splints will continue

I ave always been prone to shin splints and have been told that it is from pushing your muscles too hard too soon. For me I would always ice my shins after a run and I would run through them unless the pain was really bad then I would take a couple of days off. I also use a compression sleeve and do calf raises to build up strength. Slowly as I built up strength in my calves my shin splints went away and I rarely ever have pain now. If I do have pain I know that I need to slow down for a little while. If running hurts start off with walking and short bursts of jogging. It will get better as your body adjusts.

In my experience shin splints go away with continued use of said shins. Just keep going, drink plenty of fluids and perhaps stick your legs in a bucket of ice cold water for 5 min after "jogging".

:noway: :noway: :noway:

No, no, no! Do not "just keep going"! I made that mistake and had shin splints for nearly a week. I could hardly walk, and actually had to call in sick to work because I knew being on my feet all day was going to be pure torture. While "running shin splints out" works for some people, I would say it's better to be safe than sorry and not do that. You may lost a few days of running, but you save yourself the possibility of being in a LOT of pain and being out for a much longer time, and the increased possibility of stress fractures. Let your legs rest.

As others have suggested, try the elliptical, or even an Arc Trainer if your gym has one (if you even go to the gym.) They are much lower impact, and you can even use these machines while you're waiting for your shin splints to heal. Next, if you're still getting pain, ibuprofen will help, as well as lots of water. Ice may help short-term for pain, but I found it didn't really help when they were bad. When you do run again, take is slow. Many people who get shin splints and are just starting to run, try to go too far and too fast. Your body needs a chance to adjust.

I understand you just got new shoes, but are you sure they are the right ones for you? I highly suggest finding a running store to have your gait analyzed. There are different shoes for people with different biomechanics. It is helpful to know if your ankles roll in, roll out, if you strike the ground with your heels, mid foot, or toes, etc. While it is recommended to try to hit the ground mid-foot (essentially between your heel and toes), run the way that is most comfortable to you to prevent further/other injury by forcing yourself to run in a way that is unnatural to your body. As you continue, your form can and possibly will improve on its own.

Good luck!

You could run through the pain but you could make it worse. Depends on the intensity. I was sprinting around a tennis court and got them (played 6 hours a week). At its worse, it requires an operation to fix. Rest, therefore, is your best solution. Then strengthen the shins with this kind of exercise:

http://eserv.co.uk/irl2/the-best-exercise-for-combating-shin-splints/

The pain comes back later? Really? Well a year and a half later...still running & still no pain coming back. Strange that considering I ran mine out.

In that case you didn't have shinsplints.

Hello!

I meant that I had changed my shoes - how would I know if they weren't suitable as they feel fine and supportive?

I was new to running, yes. I had never run before in my life so I started the couch to 5k and I managed to get to, I think, week 5/6? But the increase was too much for me so I stopped, then I started running on the treadmill in the gym in shorter bursts. So I'm pretty new to running, yes. I can walk fine, I just find it extremely boring.

OK, you've had some good advice and some piss poor advice in this thread.

If you're suffering shinsplints then you need to rest and recover before going back to running. The damage is microfractures in the shin and affecting the muscle adhesion to the bone. Do not try to run through it. Running is hard on the legs and if you give yourself permanent damage now then you'll regret it.

I mostly use the bike in the gym which I do enjoy using and can stay on there for a long time and appears to be burning a lot of calories (according to the machine) but I feel it's not changing my body shape or helping me lose any weight/tone up, which I think running would help with.

I usually do weights before I start and sometimes the bike and I also start with a warm up walk so I'm not just diving straight into the running. I will have to try doing more stretches aimed at my lower legs though - I'll try the ones in that link, thanks!

There are a number of different things that you can do, I'd second the point about proper running shoes made upthread. It's not just buying new shoes, it's buying new shoes that are appropriate to your gait. I overpronate, so roll from the outer heel to the ball of the foot and need shoes that help compensate for that, you may be different.

Form is a big contributor to the problem, if you're over extending your front foot and landing on your heel you put a significant load on the leg as you drag your body over the lever of your leg. Short steps where you're landing with the foot just barely in front of your mass, and then pushing yourself forward, are most efficient and least hard on your frame. That's the essence of the Chi running or midfoot running mentioned above. There are several techniques to encourage that.

The other potential cause is a muscle strength imbalance between the calf and the muscle along the shin. You can deal with that either through some of the exercises mentioned above, or by using a resistance band. The point about cycling also contributes to helping here, clip in your toes and consciously lift the pedal as well as pushing down. That'll help the balance.

Note that an elliptic will not address the underlying issue leading to shin splints.

I would also suggest not coupling running and resistance training, try to do them on different days.

It might also be worth thinking about objectives. Running does burn a lot of calories, but if that's your reason for doing it then you're not going to get the best from it.

Something of a re-hash here but this is how overcame them during my own c25K journey:

1. Stretching. Can't emphasize this enough. Do some warming stretches before running. More importantly, STRETCH AFTER THE RUN. Post-workout, your muscles are hot and loose. This is the best time to stretch to avoid cramps, improve motion and help with shin splints, too. Look up stretches for shin splints, do them after workout, even if it's not running.

2. Get fitted for shoes. Go to a pro. A shoe store that deals with runners specifically. It costs more, but it's worth it. Have them fit you for the right shoes for your gait.

3. Get custom insoles. The right shoe store can help with this too.

3. Shorten your stride/land mid to front foot. I was landing on my heel due to overstriding. This high impact running was hurting. The shorter stride decreased my time, but it increased my endurance and lessened soreness and pain.

There you go. That's what worked for me. A lot of other people have said to go to an eliptical. Those are great, but I know the motivation factor and accomplishment that comes from the c25K are second to none. I now run two to three times a week, and use an eliptical two or three times a week (total 5). The best non-running, low impact exercise is swimming - bar none.

The wikipedia on shin splints is accurate. Some are saying shin splints IS tiny fractures. Shin splints CAN be tiny fractures, but that's not the most common form. That's why some people can run through it, and some people can't. For some, once the muscles build up and their stride becomes more stable, the shin splints go away. Best to ice the muscles, reduce impact but continue to exercise, and start running again after a bit - but keep it slow for a while. If the shin splints comes back immediately or fairly quickly - it could be micro-fractures.

I recommend that you take anyone who says there's only one way to deal with the issue with a grain of salt. Shin splints are a symptom of something else. How you deal with it depends on what's causing the pain. That's why you're seeing so many (differing) opinions.

I'm no doc, just someone who worked through it and is still running.

You are kind of damned if you do and damned if you don't with shin splints. Yes, for me, continuing to run (albeit much slower and for less time) cured my shin splints (whatever you want to call it, shin pain, whatever) and yes the pain after running was so bad that I was limping. My concern for people who get the advice you should ABSOLUTELY NOT run through shin pain is that they are just going to give up on running. If they stop running immediately when they feel the slightest twinge of pain they will never know if more running could actually be the answer for them. Of course I think every one who has said they have "run through" their shin pain didn't run for months and months on end in excruciating pain. We went for a run, came home, took an asprin, iced our shins and went out the next morning for a little more and then one day the shin pain just didn't come back. A month, maybe six weeks of this. I think people need to use common sense. If they have been running for months and their shin pain is not getting any better, they should probably stop. But, I think it's unfair to automatically assume that rest is the only thing that can cure shin splints. I went that route. I was told to stop immediately if I felt pain and wait a couple days until the pain went away. Well, every single time I ran that shin pain came back, so I would stop again. One day I just decided to test the theory that one can actually build up the muscles in the calves and shins enough for the pain to go away and it worked. If I had listened to everyone who told me to stop, I wouldn't be running today and that is very very sad.

But, I think it's unfair to automatically assume that rest is the only thing that can cure shin splints. I went that route.

Rest is not a "cure" for shinsplints, it doesn't address the underlying reason for the problem which is a combination of muscular imbalance and form.

Rest does allow the physical damage to the bone and connective tissue to repair to the extent that it can then be trained upon, while that rest is ongoing alternative exercises can be used to start to mitigate the underlying causes

One day I just decided to test the theory that one can actually build up the muscles in the calves and shins enough for the pain to go away and it worked.

Injury prevention is one of the best reasons for runners to undertake resistance training as well. Resistance band training helps strengthen the ankle improve the muscular balance in the lower leg, similarly lifting a sandbag with the toes, pivoting on the heel. The point about cycling earlier helps, as pulling up on the pedal helps strengthen the muscles affected.

One of the reasons that running through the pain doesn't address the underlying problem is that the muscle actions bias towards strengthening the calf and hamstring, with less effect on the shin muscle, quads and glutes. Cycling is a complementary exercise for all of them, if resistance training isn't preferred.

It's not a question of "don't run", it's a question of "rest, treat, return".

There are a number of reasons why it's a recurring injury, largely because the underlying cause isn't addressed.

Rest, ice, compress, elevate is the basic approach to treating an injury, including shinsplints

Resolution of the cause of the injury is muscular training, correct footwear that's not been run out (around 500 miles), form and pace.