Do i have shin splints?

Question

I keep very active I do lots of mountain biking, play football.
Just recently I have joined the local gym. Getting to the point, when im running I start to feel pain down the outer sides of my shins, it burns like hell. Today just walking about my shins feel sore, I was telling someone about it and they said I was suffering from shin splints?
What are shin splint?
How can you stop them?

Answer 1

I suffered from this years ago when I started my first year of marching band. Make fun if you want, but marching band is hard work. You do so much walking, and not normal walking either. They taught us what they called the roll-step, which reduces the bounce in your walk, and involves pointing your toe way up in the air as you start your stride, thus stretching the calf muscle. This was my first year of doing this, and doing it repeatedly for a few days caused me so much pain on the front of my right calf muscle that they put me on crutches the rest of the week. After the worst of it healed, I would from the on wrap my leg from the bottom of my knee to the ankle with an ace bandage to try and support my calf and keep everthing "tight" while marching. It still bugs me to this day if I do anything to strenuous, especially on hard surfaces, with that leg. I was also suggested a little exercise which helps also with sore ankles. Pretend your toe is the tip of a pen, and write the alphabet in cursive in the air with your toe. Sound silly, but try it.

Answer 2

Trust me on this one because at this very moment I am sitting at the computer with an ice pack on my left leg after being told by the team trainer that I have shin splints. Apply Ice as much as possible, stretch your calves out, massage them, try not to over work them for the next few days. They will eventually go away and these things will aid in the healing process. Maybe get some Tigerbalm. Heat after the ice flushes out the blood vessels plus it relaxes the muscles.

Answer 3

There is no such thing as 'shin splints' i'm affriad, this is such an inexact term. I am studying a BTEC national diploma in sport and exercise science and they just don't exsist.

It is very common and is an inflammation of the periostium (tissue covering the bone). It is an overuse injury and would have been caused by incorrect footwear, running on hard surfaces or a sudden increase in training that the you are not used to (in other words your muscles are not absorbing the shock from running and are passing it through your bones instead and you are not giving your body enough to recover)

You will feel pain at the front of the shin and could be red and swollen too. The only cure for this injury is rest or see your doctor for anti-inflammartory medication. If you do not reduce your training 'shin splints' lead to stress fractures (broken bones in other words)

Answer 4

A shin splint is a pain like you have described in your shins. The best way to stop them is to rest from any activities which increase the pain (eg. football or running on a treadmill in your case)

You can also try breaking up the hard tissue on your shin by rubbing a golf ball or other hard round object on and around your shin where it is painful. If you do this quite hard, it will soften and break up any clotted blood which has hardened in that area.

After you have done this try putting an ice pack on your shin to speed up the congealing of the internal bleeding.

A bandage over the painful area might help to compresss and speed up the congealing. It might also reduce any pain when movement occurs. (such as walking)

The best remedy is rest though.

Answer 5

Hello,

YES! you have shin splints, I used to get this when I worked out intensively at the gym and with lots of circuit training. Shin Splints as I understand it are caused when the long muscles in the lower leg are no1) NOT warmed up properly no.2) the muscles get over stretched 3) you dont have a good enough sole on your trainers to absorb the continual pounding impact of the running or excercise.

Solutions: -

A) make sure you warm up the body for long enough, stretch the legs carefully.

B) Dont over do the training in the gym, football or biking,etc

C) make sure your trainers have a good thick absorbent sole on them

D) If they dont go away after a few weeks I would consult a good sports physio or sports doctor. But dont ignore the symptoms.

IR

Answer 6

ARRH, I hate shinsplints...
sounds like it to me, I find i get while road jogging especially when going down hill ...
Led to believe its your muscle coming away from the shin bone through constant pounding.
Stay off the treadmill until they are better and maybe invest in high quality running shoes if your going to persist with treadmill or road running.

Answer 7

the same thing has happened to me,i was told i was wearing the wrong footwear,the best thing to do is go to a sports shop that will put you on a running machine and look at the specific area of impact and then they will advise you which shoes to buy. i know its very frustating, the running shoes are expensive but they are necesary