Tibial stress fractures

Unfortunately we haven't been able to find a cohesive answer other than
rest and recovery tactics. Soft shoes. No compression or jarring.
After six months we are finally able to apply some very low box jumps with a very slow descent. The key to recovery here is to go very slow
and make sure the area is healed before coming back too quickly.

I have been cycling, aquarunning and swimming to retain fitness however i still feel as though i have lost some. What other techniques have you been using to keep your athlete fit both physically and mentally? I am still training hard in these other disciplines but have sort of reached a flat stage! soft shoes have bee a help as you suggested, new ones with new orthotics.

I'm going to assume you are en endurance athlete by the
activities that you listed there.

Motivation is a huge factor. It's easy as a coach to tell you
to rest and stay off but psychologically you'd probably go batty.

I have had some luck working with athletes who are unable to
run by working on maximal strength. We're looking for neurological
strength gains so we don't have any increase in bodymass.

It's great for motivation because the athletes look at it as a
new challenge. Also the development of fast twitch fibre
translates very well, even to the endurance athlete.

You MUST be careful however and lift properly with expert
technique so you don't injure anything else. As long as
the lifting does not aggravate the shins any further you
can look forward to the increased strength when you get back
on the road, pool, bike.

Shins can take a long time to heal. Instead of waiting six weeks
to see results the athletes I've worked with have enjoyed
the new challenge as well as the strength.

I am a middle distance runner (15's mainly but also do some 8's), I was initially told to stay away from leg weights but think by now I could get back into it. Your suggestion sounds good as i have found it very hard mentally especially when your training group carries on without you! My coach has a large group and has found it hard to slot in an injured athlete too in the middle of our season. I have a Master's in Ex phys but always find that your own injuries are harder to treat than others, thanks very much for the suggestions any other ideas you may have please pass them on. Elle :D

Elle, just curious, why did your coach say to stay away from
leg weights?

Jonathan

I have 3 stress fracture sights, 2 mid tibia (both legs) on the anterior medial boarder and one at the proximal neck of the left tibia. I guess he thought that the extra pressure through the legs would agrivate the injury. I have seen conflicting research on whether you should continue with leg weights, in my opinion i would have continued with weights, maybe at a lower intensity? But as you know, coaches are just trying to do their best for the athlete. What is your opinion on leg weights with stress fractures?

Erm, I'm guessing you have the same problem as me, I have a sharp pain which reoccurs whenever I return to sprinting but the strange thing is that I am able to lift weights and perform leg workouts without feeling it in the lower shin? I am confused at how I can speed the process of healing?

--With faith you can move mountains - unfortunately mine barely budges a leaf 8^D--