Shin Split Treatment?

Question

I can't stop running because i am a high school student and have practices 6 days a week...i am also on varsity so i am needed on the team... HELP!!

Answer 1

"Shin splints are a general pain along the shin. Treatment includes rest, rest, rest. Cross-train instead of running, then resume running gradually for short distances and cross-train between runs. Also ice and stretch."

Make sure you do a lot of stretching exercises. Even if you have to run every day, I would try running a little slower. Don't run at your max. You need to do something to give your legs a rest and if you can't stop running, then the next best thing is to run slow and ice your shins right after you run.

Answer 2

"Shin Splints"

They can only be healed with rest. Then you need to determine what you are doing wrong to cause them and resolve that or they will return.

They are caused by:

Over training.

Mechanical problems with the feet such as "over pronation". Over pronation can be simply described as a condition which causes your arches to flatten out when you stand up. This causes your ankles to roll in towards each other and disturbs your normal walking pattern. If a foot over pronates the structures of the leg are stretched and put under stress, which increases the likelihood of that structure being injured.

Tight calve muscles.

A young novice runner training for long periods on hard roads and in poor physical condition.

Training on hard surfaces such as concrete.

Improper shoes, inadequate shock absorption.

Excessive rotation of the hip.

Check all of these to your running method and resolve them accordingly.

Answer 3

Unless things have changed since my days on the high school track and cross country team there is not a whole lot that can be done. We just ran through the pain. The good news is that it usually only lasts a few days. Ice, ibuprofen and taping help some.