Any advice for shin splints?

[becksbinks]

[Tigg]

Hopefully I'm not to late for this, but I suffered terrible shinsplints when I first started running! After consulting a physiotherapist friend, I laid off running or any other high-impact sports until the shinsplints had healed. "Pushing through them" can just lead to an even worse injury, maybe even permanent damage. It took me four weeks of rest to see them gone before I started jogging again, this time on the C25K programme.

I am now running for twenty minutes, with NO shinsplints!! Here's how:

-- I went to Sweatshop and they fitted me with a good pair of very supportive trainers that make sure you're not landing heavily on the wrong part of your foot (I also suffer from flat feet, so these help me immensely) - these were about £80, but I would swear by every penny that they are worth it!

-- TAKE IT SLOW - if you feel a twinge, just stop. You gotta build up the muscles so bringing on another bout of shinsplnts will just set you back.

-- Avoid running on concrete. Try a treadmill if you have access to a gym, or run on soft tracks/grass. It's the impact that does you in - I suspect this is was the key to getting to where I am now.

My dad also suffered with shinsplints, but after taking it slow on a treadmill, and visiting Sweatshop for a good pair of trainers, we are both now splint-free and running far!

Good luck to you Becks, I hope my advice helps and you can banish those shinsplints too!!