Shin Splints
One thing all runners can all agree? Shin splints (pain along either or both of the shinbones) are the absolute worst—second only to a DNF next to our online race results - Erin Kelly
image by: Julie F
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Solving the Riddle of the Shin Splint
When we were all just babes in the coaching world, we probably uttered the same two words we often heard our prominent elders using to describe lower leg pain in runners: shin splints. Even if we didn’t know exactly how to explain a shin splint, we knew what it caused—the kind of pain in the front of the lower leg that, when you pressed on the specific hot point, sent runners to the roof tops. For most of us, whatever we chose to call that kind of pain, we still weren’t coming any closer to resolving it.
The riddle: When is a shin splint not a shin splint? The answer: When it’s a stress fracture. And a good response to this riddle might be: If the end result is basically the same—a…
Resources
The Whole Story on Shin Splints
If I were to do a study regarding running related injuries, I’d bet money that the hottest topic would be shin splints.
What Are Shin Splints, and How Do You Prevent Them?
If someone asked you to pound your entire body weight onto your hands, repeatedly, for an hour a day, six days a week, you’d probably tell me to get lost. Yet, if you’re reading this, you probably do the exact same thing to your feet everyday when you work out, jog, or shoot hoops...
A Guide to Soothing Painful Shin Splints
This injury is one of the most frustrating to overcome. Shin splints can linger for a very long time, and prevent you from working out the way you want too. The good news is that they’re very treatable.
All About those Annoying, Terrible, Dreadful, Painful Shin Splints
Shin splints! Yikes! Those two words strike a chord of fear in the heart of any runner. They’re right up there with PF, meaning plantar fasciitis, ITB, iliotibial band syndrome, stress fractures and runner’s knee.
Got Shin Splints? We Have the Cure
Nearly a quarter of all interruptions in training can be traced back to this overloading syndrome. The pain usually builds up for weeks and in severe cases, can make running virtually impossible...
How to Prevent Shin Splints
Shin splints, a term used to describe pain in the lower leg, are a common overuse injury, especially among athletes and runners. The pain is classified as either medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) or anterior shin splints.
Relief for Shinsplints
Some emerging science suggests that cellular changes within the shinbone itself, in reaction to the stress and pounding of many sports, also are involved, although to what extent isn’t clear.
Running into problems: shin splints
Shin splints is actually a bit of a misnomer and should really be referred to as "exercise-induced leg pain", as I will explain. The most common type of exercise-induced leg pain is medial tibial (shin bone) stress syndrome (MTSS) which doesn't exactly role off the tongue, but is a more accurate term. The other two main types are a stress fracture or compartment syndrome.
Shin Splint Prevention 101 For Athletes
Athletes experiencing these symptoms likely have a lot of questions: Can you still workout with shin splints? How to prevent shin splints when walking? Most importantly, what effective shin splint prevention measures can be taken? These five tips will help you to prevent and treat these troublesome injuries.
Shin Splints No More
The correct term for what you're experiencing is medial tibial stress syndrome. The cause of medial tibial stress syndrome is often debated, but most agree that it's caused by overuse.
What causes shin splints?
The root causes of the pain of shin splints can be divided into two areas: muscle and bone. The muscles that connect to the ankle are covered by a "sausage skin" known as fascia. This fascia holds the muscles together, and it is quite tough and inelastic. When the muscles naturally expand as a result of exertion, the resulting pressure causes the pain. We see this form of shin splints, known as exertional compartment syndrome, in athletes who play field sports like soccer or run a lot on hard surfaces. The second major source of shin splint pain stems from the bones and ranges from stress reactions to full-blown fractures.
Why Shin Splints Happen and How to Never Deal With Them Again
There are few things every runner agrees on. The best running shoe, the most accurate GPS watch, and whether KT tape really works are all up for debate in running communities. One thing all runners can all agree? Shin splints (pain along either or both of the shinbones) are the absolute worst—second only to a DNF next to our online race results.
Solving the Riddle of the Shin Splint
When we were all just babes in the coaching world, we probably uttered the same two words we often heard our prominent elders using to describe lower leg pain in runners: shin splints. Even if we didn’t know exactly how to explain a shin splint, we knew what it caused.
3 Easy Ways to Prevent Shin Splints
When you think about gait biomechanics, it’s no wonder so many of us encounter this issue. Whether you’re running or walking, each time you step, you come down with more than twice the force of your own body weight.
ShinTekk
Are you ready to get rid of your painful shin splints? The ShinTekk system rapidly improves lower leg strength, agility, and flexibility.
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