Shin Splints

[AllyS]

Hi Guys, my hubby has just completed W3R2 and has been struggling from the beginning with shin splints. He thought they may have eased off over a couple of weeks but they’ve not and tonight he hobbled in saying it’s worse. He says he’s warming up properly but he’s now talking about abandoning the programme for a few weeks. Is this the right thing for him to do? Any advice much appreciated.

[Wanna-Be Graduate]

In my experience shin splints only get better with rest. I think they are an over use thing. Ice and ibprofine help so much!

The best ways to prevent them in the future are;

Running form - landing on the mid foot under your center of gravity

Shoes bought after gait analysis

Stretching after the cool down walk - if I don't have time for 5-10 min of stretching then I don't have time to run!

[_SimonT_ Graduate]

Hi Ally

I was reading up on this last night. Shin splints is a catch all term for a variety of specific problems of the lower leg. It can be related to the bone, muscles or connective tissues and each persons shin splints could have a different root cause. Shin splints is a condition which mainly happens to runners.

From what I read the main treatment is unfortunately to stop running. This may be for several weeks or even months.

Here’s the link to the NHS website which is pretty useful:

nhs.uk/conditions/shin-spli...

I hope he gets better quickly and can rejoin the program soon.

[sallenson Graduate]

Shin pains nasty!!

Assuming that your hubby has the right sort of shoes, then he's likely to be either over-striding (his leading foot should land in line with his hip and not in front of it) - so shorter steps

and/or

he's trying to too fast too soon.

Rest is the only real cure. If you run with shin pain it can lead to awful things like stress fractures. But if he takes it slow and steady he should be fine....

[Ally25 Graduate]

I have been suffering very sore lower shin pain from about half way through this programme, but just kept going by taking ibuprofen, however last Friday after running Thursday evening I was in so much pain that I just knew that I had to take some time out. I have had complete rest for over a week and this morning I ran again...,.,.my legs feel so much better for the rest. I am hoping now that I can carry on......,.i think what I am trying to say is that you have to listen to your body and if you need to take time out, then that is really the best thing to do. I feel his pain, I really hope he recovers soon and can get back out there.......good luck 😀