How To Prevent and Treat Shin Splints

[FUZO]

Shin splint pain commonly happens whenever walkers start a walking program, start walking faster, change their shoe style, or change their stride. Shin splints are due to an imbalance between the muscles that lift the foot and those that pull it down. Overstriding can cause of shin splints, as can wearing walking shoes with a relatively high wedge heel. The shin splint pain will eventually go away as you develop your shin muscles and adjust to your new stride.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: 10 minutes
Here's How:

1. Do not overstride: Overstriding is one of the major causes of shin splints. Keep your stride longer in back and shorter in front. Go faster by pushing off more with the back leg. Overstriding
2. Walking shoes with flexible soles and low heels: You should be able to twist and bend your shoes, otherwise your feet and shins are fighting them with each step. Some "walking" shoes are not well designed for walking. If they don't twist and bend, select another style. Your walking shoes should be relatively flat, without a built-up heel.
3. Strengthen your calf muscles with exercises: Toe Raises and Shin Stretches can help build the shin muscles and improve their flexibility so you can overcome shin splints.
4. Replace old, dead shoes: Shoe cushioning is exhausted every 500 miles, often long before the soles or uppers show wear. But these old, dead shoes can contribute to shin splints and plantar fasciitis, as well as foot and leg fatigue.
5. Walk on softer surfaces: Seek out barkdust, dirt, grass, or cinder walking paths rather than concrete.
6. Alternate walking days: Walk only every other day until the pain disappears.
7. Ice: Ice your shins before you walk, and again ice your shins for 20 minutes after you walk.
8. Keep legs warm during your walk: Keep your legs warm with long socks during the walk.
9. Warm-up before going fast: Warm up at an easy pace for ten minutes before you begin a faster paced walking workout.
10. Stretch after warming up: Stop and do your stretch routine, especially the legs, after your warm-up.
11. Speed up only after warming up: If you feel the calf pain, slow down.
12. Slow or stop if you feel shin splint pain: If the pain does not go away quickly at a lower speed, end your walk.
13. Pain in the back of the leg: For pain in the back of the leg, make sure you are not leaning forward when walking.
14. Pain in the front of the leg: For pain in the front of the leg, a slightly higher shoe heel may work better.

Tips:

1. Shin splints are due to an imbalance between the muscles that lift the foot and those that pull it down.
2. Avoid walking and running competition until the pain is gone.
3. Ibuprofen or other anti-imflammatories can help.
4. Anterior Compartment Syndrome is a more rare cause of pain on the outer side of the lower leg.
5. Stress Fracture can occur in those starting an exercise program, with sharp pain a below the knee.

What You Need:

• Ice/heat pack
• Ibuprofen

[6p6]

Re: How To Prevent and Treat Shin Splints

I hate shin splits!!!

[FUZO]

Re: How To Prevent and Treat Shin Splints

Oh man when your running or jump roaping sometimes i'll get them and I cant walk until I stretch them out