is there anything i can do for my shin splints?

Question

i get really bad shin splints after i run , should i stop running for a few days?...i dont want to do that because its so hard to get back into condition.............stretching?.........change my running style?..............any ideas?

Answer 1

What snvffy has written above is correct, but I want to add a couple other exercises. One is running stairs--you may have seen the football team running the bleachers? That's a good way to ward off shin splints. The other is toe lifts: stand on your toes at the edge of a stair or curb. Slowly lower your body down below the stair line and then slowly raise it again.

The motions in both of these exercises roughly correspond to snvffy's toe curls done on the bed.

Answer 2

Take a few days off !!!!

Shin splints are caused by muscle imbalance. Calf strong, shin weak. The way to correct this is to strengthen the muscles at the front of the legs. Lie face down in bed with your toes hanging over the edge. Pull your toes upward against the resistance of the mattress. Try to work up to 3 or 4 sets of 5 – 10 reps each. Good Luck

Answer 3

Get better running shoes.