How to diagnois if you have shin splints?

Question

Basically im 22 about 5'6 or 5'7 i weigh 181 lbs im in the process of losing weight i was at 200 i used to play basketball daily then when i got out of high school i stopped playing. for about 4 months now I've been trying to get back in shape and play ball but i notice at strenuous pain when running in my lower legs \inner calves i know I've progressed because when i first got back to playing i wouldn't be able to walk after playing but now i can continue to play through it but that percentage of pain thats left wont let me play at the degree that i know im capable of plus if i touch the front of my leg on my shins it hurts like all the time not just after running if i wake up in the morning and touch them they hurt but im hoping that if i get down to 160 this will disappear if shin splints are what i have......

Answer 1

The first answer covers a lot of it but I also have shin splints and I got on runnersworld.com to see if they had any stretches to help with shin splints.

This is the link I found:

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,71...

I have been doing these along with some others and it seems to be helping a lot.

another trick I learned from a fellow runner was to fill Dixie cups with water and then freeze them. after they are completely frozen cut off the cup part and massage up and down your shin. This may hurt as you are doing it but it will help. also you can just ice them 3x a day fro 20 minutes each time.

hope i helped

Answer 2

well i run track and what not and ive had shin splints off and on. it is a pain right on your shins on the front of your lower leg and mine hurt when i would run and when even sometimes when i would walk after getting done with practice. they are hard to get rid of. next time u are sitting down, extend ur leg out and continuously bend ur ankle (like u r pressing the gas peddle). it helps...

Answer 3

just so you know,

shin splints refers to a variety of shin problems

it basically just stands for "pain in the shin"

so essentially, yes, you have "shin splints"

be careful with this

its great that you're trying to get back in shape

but starting strenuous activity

after a period of nothing

can cause serious problems

this may be a possible cause for your pain

you body is still adapting to your exercise

if this is the case the problem should correct itself

however,

your pain may be cause by some other reason

such as a stress fracture

of inflammation

there is really only one way to heal a stress fracture

you have to stop almost all activity

and allow it to completely heal

before you do any sports again

otherwise, it will continue to cause problems

inflammations could be the result of poor stretching

if your leg muscles are tight

(specifically your calf)

it will put undue stress on the shin bone

causing inflammation and pain

if this is the case you should ease up on heavy exercise

(although you can continue w/ anything low-impact)

until pain diminishes

if you can train through it... do for it

also, stretch in the morning and night

as well as before and after exercise

to keep your muslces stretched

also, you can take an anti-inflamatory

such as ibuprofin

before and after exercise

to reduce swelling and inflammation

hopefully this helps!

shin splints are tricky situations

because there can be so many causes!

if you're not sure about anything

talk to a SPORTS doctor

a typical doctor will tell you to stop running ect.

however, a SPORTS doctor

will tell you how to maintain training

while remaining as injury-free as possible