F'N Shin Splints

[tzan]

I try to do cardio at least 4 times a week. I have no probable riding the bike, but I also like to really run. My problem is I usually have to stop running, not because I'm fatigued or out of breath, but because my shins start killing me. Do any of you guys ahve any idea what I could do to lessen the pain? It really doesn't seem to matter what surface I'm running on.
Thanks

 

[sysopt]

stop running! You could on the edge of screwing up a lot of precious stuff that can't be fixed. Do you have flat feet? Maybe you should do shin exercises (tibialis anterior).

http://www.exrx.net/Lists/ExList/CalfWt.html#anchor1929502

 

[tzan]

Stop running? I've been an atlete my entirte life and have never had this problem before. I do have flat feet however, does that have something to do with it?

 

[rgosit]

U need orthodics,..i had this problem starting in the spring..to the piont i couldn't run and it hert to walk.. i iced them like crazy streched and rested... i went to the chiropracter and got an orthodic. soon the pain went away completeley after about 2 monthes of no pain..they started comming back..i went to the foot doctor this time and he added 2 peaces to my orthodic, and again the pain went away completely



so..rest, ice stretch ur calfs allot, then go to the foot doctor and ur pain should go away

 

[riskybizz007]

that happens to me as well. What i do is try to warm up really good before you run. Sometimes it takes 5min. sometimes it takes 20 min., but as long as i warm up good enough i can avoid the shin splint during the run.

 

[sysopt]

I know this kid who was a freshman track runner. He was making new records that seniors had made. He got lots of full scholarships. He had flat feet and his knee got fucked up, and it's all over. Go to the foot doctor, when you're clear with him, start running again.

 

[DanielBishop]

Trust me, STOP RUNNING!!!

I pretty much ended my amateur boxing career because I wouldn't listen to people when they told me to stop running when I suffered from shin splints.... I said "Eh, I can take a little pain. Don't wanna fall behind" so I kept running through the pain....

.... and after a year of running through the shin splints, ignoring the pain, one day I collapsed and couldn't even walk. I had to lay there all day until I could finally get to a phone. Now the damage that I've done by ignoring the problem is permanent.... and if I start running again, even on grass or a soft surface, the shin splints return after only a day or two. I had surgery, but still can't run for more a couple of times without a few weeks in between.

I learnt at uni that by ignoring shin splints and continuing to run, you do damage that is irreversable. I wish I'd known before.

Please, don't run with shin splints. Bad idea.... you'll ruin yourself. Do some stretches for tibialis anterior, and talk to a specialist about what else you can do to prevent them.... but don't run until they say it's okay.

 

[cman]

I wouldn't stop running. I used to have problems with shin splints, the thing you have to do is gradually increase your distances(how long are your runs?) I would start with short distances, like a mile three times a week, and gradually increase. I would also stretch really well before and after running, and also ice your problem area after your run. I couldn't even run a mile w/o getting splints a couple years ago, now I run 25 miles a week with little problems.

 

[estropes]

Okay here's a few tip from a guys that used to have shin splits.

First week.

Sit in a chair, and force your toes toward your head, while keeping your heel on the floor. Do this until you feel like your shins are going to bust. Try to do this as many times as possable, after every set strech your shins out.

Take the weekend off.

Second week.

Get a small bucket with a handle. Put a light weight, water or sand in the bottom of the bucket...something to add a litte bit of weight. Now sit on a counter or some place where your leg hangs. Now place the handle of the bucket on the edge of your foot and bring the toe toward your head.

Basically yout building the muscles in the shin, this regimate helped me a ton. I could only run for maybe a mile if I was luckly before my shins would start to kill me. Now I'm up to 5 miles a day, no problems.

 

[VooDoo Lady]

Oh GOD I can feel your pain!

I WAS running 25-30 miles a week....until I just couldn't take the pain anymore. (not to mention the fact that I was breaking down and destroying all of the muscle I was working so hard to build, but that's another topic.)

I tried so many different ways to ease the pain, but honestly the only thing that worked was significantly reducing the amount of running I was doing a week.

I tried every 'shin building' machine at the gym, toe taps while stretching, I even tried to alter my form while running. Oh my GOD was I desperate to stop the pain.

Sorry, the only thing that stopped the pain for me was reducing the amount of time I run.

VDL