Shin Splint Q and A

The shin splint is one of the most common injuries of the runner. It’s not a sudden injury like a muscle tear, but can happen over time as your running habits change. It can be quite painful, but if you handle your running right, there’s nothing to be afraid of, and it certainly isn’t a reason to give up exercise. Here are some of the facts about shin splints.

Question: What are the two types of shin splints?

Answer: The two types of shin splints are anterior and posterior – outside and inside of your legs, respectively.

Question: What are the causes of shin splints?

Answer: Oftentimes, it’s not just one thing. Overtraining can lead to shin splints, but improper run technique (such as excessive pronation) can contribute to the pain in your lower legs. Shoes that are beat up and don’t offer your feet support anymore might lead to your shin splints – in reality, a lot of things can lead to your shin splints, and usually the answer is too much of one type of running. If you can figure out what’s causing them, you will be that much closer to returning to your normal running schedule.

Question: How do I get rid of my shin splint?

For immediate pain relief, ice your lower leg with an icepack after a run. This will also help reduce swelling and generally numb your leg to any pain you might be feeling. You might take some pain medication, but make sure that you never take it before running. Check with a doctor if you’re on a running regimen and plan on taking pain medications.

As for longer-term cures, it will depend on what you’ve been doing. For some people, cutting back on the running temporarily can help. You’ll also want to examine your running technique to try and find out what might be causing the shin splints – it might come down to the way your feet hit the ground. Do a little more research on running technique and see if you can find a way to measure your own, such as by running on a beach where you can see your footprints.

You can also learn exercises to help your muscles adapt to your running habits. Don’t count yourself out of running because your have a shin splint. Instead, ask yourself how you can treat it effectively.

Photo Credits: MarkWallace

Originally posted 2009-08-10 03:34:18.

This post involves:

excessive pronation, exercise, footprints, legs, medication, muscle tear, overtraining, pain medication, pain medications, pain relief, regimen, shin splint, shin splints, shoes

... and focuses on:

Health, Running

Posted by Bike Swim Run on October 28, 2009 in Health, Running. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.