sore shins :(

[jules50]

Just read about 'shin splints', and the fact that this could stop me running altogether even though my last run was a struggle, I'm on week 6 day 2 and the thought of stopping running now is devastating, I'm loving it!! Has any one else had this problem and what happened?

[Rignold]

'Shin Splints' is not a condition per se - it is a catch-all term used to describe all exercise-related pain in the front of the lower leg. The most common form, Tibial Stress Syndrome, is extermely common among runners and dancers and so on. It's almost always caused by an increase in exercise that the legs are not used to, often exacerbated by pronation. very seldom does it cause anyone to have to give up exercise altogether. Properly treating your legs after running (RICE), doing your stretches and strengthening exercises and getting th ecorrect running shoes are the answer most of the time.

If your pain is so great that you feel you have to quit altogether you should go to your Doctor as it may well be that it is a stress fracture that is the cause, rather than 'shin splints'.

[jules50 Graduate in reply to Rignold]

Thanks for the advice. I think my running shoes are good ones, I bought them a good few years ago but they were expensive ones from a proper running shop. I do follow the warm up and warm down advice on C25K but maybe I should be doing extra leg stretches while im suffering from this pain, really don't want it to affect my completing the program, as this is my training leading me up to the race for life in June this year.

[Rignold in reply to jules50]

It's not the pricetag on shoes but their suitability for your gait that determines whether the will be contributing to your shin pain. Did you have gait analysis doen when you bought them? Also, if they are a few years old, have you worn them much since then? Running shoes only have a longevity of 300-500 miles whether you are running or walking in them.

[jules50 Graduate in reply to Rignold]

I bought the shoes and only used them for about a month until now and that was 6 years ago so they were virtually still new they are asics a make i assumed were good but no i didnt get properly assessed so maybe i should now, to be honest its not as bad as it was i was just worried i was doing sone sort of damage!

[Troggie_One Graduate]

I have found wearing compression socks has dealt with my shin splints!

[jules50 Graduate in reply to Troggie_One]

Thanks!

[Dunder2004 Graduate]

I had shin splints just the once, it was worrying but they haven't returned since. It was just my muscles complaining about the new workload.

As Rignold says, there really is no such thing as "shin splints", the term covers 4 very common, but different, ailments as well as a few others which are less common.

The likelihood of you having to stop running is very small but if you are frequently encountering shin pain you should look at whether your footwear is suitable.