Shin Splints? I haven't a clue!?!
Hi there,
I’ve recently just started to go to the gym in an attempt to get fit and just be a bit healthier. I started running on the treadmill and after ten minutes or so I started to feel a little bit of pain on the back of my shins. The pain isn’t really bad or anything but it aches after a while. My friends tell me this is a sure sign of shin splints. They also told me that rest is the only real cure.
That is fine and I can accept that but I had a similar pain a couple of years back when I started to jog regulary, so I gave it up and didn’t really do any exercise for those two years, playing soccer now and then but nothing much.
I thought that after two years rest, the problem would’ve gone, but it hasn’t so now I’m wondering if it is shin splints after all. Does anyone have any idea what is wrong with me or am I just one of those people that wasn’t designed to do exercise?!
1 Comment found
runnerchick
From what you’ve told me, it does sound like you have shin splints. However, the term shin splints is no longer considered a appropriate medical term because it can imply a lot of different conditions. You could have inflammation of the covering around your tibia, inflammation of the soleuos muscle where it connects to the tibia, a stress fracture, or a more serious condition called compartment syndorme.
Since it sounds like this problem ceases to bother you once you stop exercising, I’d say that it is nothing serious. However, it would certainly be to your benefit to rest for a week or so. Or until you hop on your tip toes 10 times without any pain
In the meantine, make sure to ice as much as possible. Have you ever done ice massage? It is the most effective method of iceing. What you’ll need to do is freeze paper cups filled with water. Then, remove the cup, and rub the ice in slow, circular motion up and down your shin for 5-7 minutes. Do this on each leg at least three times per day, more would be even more beneficial.
You might also want to try wrapping ACE wraps around your shins. I don’t know if they call them that in the UK so any elastic-like cloth 3-4 inches wide will do. You can wear these all day and night, however I would recommend removing them every 4 hours for 15 minutes to allow the pressure in your legs to return to normal.
If this doesn’t help, you should go see a sports medicine doctor because your shin splints may be caused by abnormalities in your gait, rather than simply overuse. I have chronic shin splints because I have flat feet and I tend to over-pronate. It may be that shin splints is just something that you’ll have to deal with, like me, if you continue to run. Anyhow, I hope this helps!
runnerchick