Shin splints are one of the most troublesome injuries among runners. The pain felt in the shin area – the space between your knee and ankle, characterizes it. Shin splints are also likely to occur to other athletes, dancers, people with flat feet or rigid arches, and military recruits. To better understand and avoid shin splints, here are its causes, symptoms, and treatment as well as ways how to prevent it from happening to you.
What Are The Causes?
• Running downhill or on slanted and uneven surface
• Participating in sports that have fast stops and starts
• Muscle weakness in the buttocks or thighs
• Lack of stretching
• Worn or ill-fitting shoes
• Overpronation
• Improper training techniques …show more content…
• Pain that develops or constant during exercise or running
• Pain and tenderness in the lower leg
• Pain on either side of the shinbone
• Pain when flexing your toes towards your shin
What Are the Treatments and Preventive Measures?
The pain and discomfort normally subsides after a few hours or at most in a few days with rest and limited activity. Your doctor will usually ask you to take a break from physical activities – two weeks the most – to allow your legs to rest and heal. You can also follow these tips to ease your shin pain:
• Massage your shin with ice for 10 to 15 minutes after running to reduce inflammation.
• Add insoles in your shoes to support the arch of your feet arch and take the stress off your lower legs.
• Loosen up your tight calves and Achilles tendon by stretching regularly.
• Do low-impact activities like biking, swimming, and walking.
• Reduce running mileage.
To avoid getting shin splints, follow these steps:
• Wear shoes that fit well and offer good support
• Use shock-absorbing insoles
• Exercise on soft, straight, and even surfaces and terrain
• Increase exercise intensity gradually
• Do stretching and warm up exercises
• Engage in toe exercises to build calf