The Cure for Shin Splints?

Question

I absolutely love running, but I can't train as much as I want because my shins start firing up. I know this is a cliche question, but please, does anyone know of anything that actually works?

Answer 1

Most likely, it's just that your shins are a bit weak, comparatively, rather than shin splints.  Do some strength exercises for them, and you'll be fine.

If you need some exercises, I'll give you two:

1) sit on a chair, couch, bed, or other raised surface.  let the lower half of one leg (knee down) hang off the bed.  Put something around that foot, say a towel, or a sock with marbles, or anything that can act as resistance.  Next, try to draw your foot up and a little in, and you should feel that in your shin.  Do 10-12, repeat with other foot.

2) same setup, but instead of bringing your foot up, bring it up to one side, like you're drawing the curve of a "J" with your toes.  Do 10 reps of this to each side, then repeat with the other foot.

Remember, these movements need to be controlled the whole time in order to be useful, if you notice you can't control the weight, you may be doing to much weight.

~Abab

Answer 2

If you think it is muscle soreness and not a stress fracture, try this.  Sit on a chair and with your foot on the floor try to simulate a motion where you are trying to curl up a towel with your toes (try to draw the towel towards you).  If you put your fingers on your outer shin you will feel a lot of flexing in the muscle.  It might give you some relief by working that area.  Old distance runner's tip!

Cold and hot treatments are needed too.

Answer 3

Aww. Sorry there is no "cure" there is a surgery but unless you love running that much its just unecessary.(sp) Umm I know you hear this constantly but ice it really should help. Ask your coach to run on the grass instead of on the track. If your coach absolutly makes you run on the track try running 200's instead of 400's or 100's because both tend to hurt your shins more.  The good thing about 200's is you build up speed and a  little bit of stamina but your not on your shins for that long.. If your coach needs some 200 workouts to give you I have a few. [8] 200's  full sprint full recovery [8] 200's full sprint little recovery [8] 200's stride curve then attack last hundred. [all of these help with the 400m dash] Oh don;t forget there are cremes and compression sleeves that work wonders...All the trackmeets I;ve ever been to allow you to use them on your leg while running even in state meets.