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alicesayles
Question:
Help me! My Shins Splints are driving me crazy!
OK, i was diagnosed with shin splints, the first doctor i went to said it was growing pains and told me to rest them, dismissing it as if it was nothing.
I rested for at least 3 months doing nothing but swimming, but as soon as i GRADUALLY started training again, it came back worse than before.
I then went to see some trainee physiotherapists for free because my mum can't afford for me to have a physiotherapist. And they said i have overpronation and i should go back to the doctors.
This other doctor said i had shin splints and if i carried on doing training it would not damage anything and he referred me to an orthapedic surgeon whom i haven't seen yet because the waiting list is so long.
My coach didn't want me running until i saw this surgeon, but i have carried on and the pain is becoming worse and she reckons i may have tiny fractures on both of my legs.
Can you help me please? This injury has ruined the entire cross country season so please help!
Asked by alicesayles - 5 answers - 26 weeks 3 days ago
sldc
Hey Alice,
I know that I have previously answered your questions. Sorry to see that you are still suffering. My suggestion still is that you go and see a certified active release practitioner, (provided you dont have stress fractures of the tibias,)
ART will give you huge improvement in 3-4 visits, maybe up to 6 due to the length of time you have the condition.
Where are you based? You can find your nearest practitioner at the following link
http://www.activerelease.com/providerSearch.asp?searchType=city&intCountryId=6&intStateId=98&strCity=
Good Luck
Submitted 26 weeks 3 days ago by sldcSL
Justchel
Alice,
The anterior musculature of the leg — tibialis anterior, extensor digitorum longus, and the extensor hallucis longus — decelerate the foot as it approaches the ground surface for impact before full forefoot loading. Running on too many downhills and/or increasing running distances too quickly predispose a runner to developing anterior shin splints. This is because of the increased demand on the anterior leg muscles to decelerate foot slap. Driving long distances with the foot pressing on the gas pedal can also lead to fatigue of the anterior leg musculature and the development of anterior shin splints.
Watch your distance while running, ramp up slow, and Yes ART will help with your pain but your biomechanics need to be checked as well.
good luck
Submitted 26 weeks 3 days ago by JustchelJB
sldc
Assessing your biomechanics(faulty in your case given your shin splints) is part of the ART provider's examination, so they may give you orthotic advice to help reoccurrence in the future etc.
SL
Submitted 26 weeks 2 days ago by sldcTomBurte
Hate to sound simple as this may have been covered but here goes- practice walking as high as possible on your toes for 10 meters then back on your heels with your toes as high as possible, if that is easy start increasing the distance by 5 meters per day. Your goal is to feel a bit of a burn in the shins and increase the ankle and calf flexibility. Another common cause is tying the shoelaces too tightly and compressing the nerve or blood vessels in the top of the foot. Yes it's simple but I've only seen 1 real fracture out of all the complaints of shin splints and I think 3 months off would have allowed that to improve. Overpronation is more likely to cause pain above or behind the inside ankle so I wouldn't expect you to refer to that as shin splints. Hope this helps, all the best.
Submitted 25 weeks 2 days ago by TomBurteTom
yark14
Here is what works best for me.
Strengthening the shin muscles does a great job in treating/preventing shin splints. What i do are called toe raises. Sit on your butt with your legs straight in front of you. Use either stretch bands, cable-pulley machine, or any form of resistance you can find. Put the band on your foot so that there is resistance when you flex your foot up towards your shin.
Try for 5 or 10 reps with each leg starting out. Gradually add sets/reps as they get stronger.
Hope this helps!
Submitted 23 weeks 3 days ago by yark14