Shin Splints - the painful run killer.

If you like to run or walk, you’ve probably heard of the term “shin splints.” Shin splints are a painful condition that is common among runners. It is caused by the constant pulling of the muscle on the front of the leg from the shin bone. The result is obviously not a cheerful one. If you happen to get shin splints, you’ll probably have them in both legs as they usually don’t just occur in one leg. They happen mostly to runners who use improper training technics or an improper running form, have flat feet, are running in damaged or worn out shoes and/or run on an uneven ground.

To treat shin splints, as with most sports injuries, rest is the best medicine. You can also take ibuprofen and ice your shins, which will reduce swelling. You want to make sure that you are using proper running form when you are training, and do you body a favor and make sure to stretch before and after your run. That way your body will warm up and cool down, thus helping preventing injuries and keeping you running instead of resting to recover from an injury. The last thing you can do is to check your running shoes and see if they are still fit for the constant pounding on your feet and ankles with each step you take. The shoes should be durable and sturdy in the sole, protecting your feet on the bottom. Also they should have cushion to them, going back to the pounding factor. If any of those things is not right on the running shoes you are using, throw them out! Running shoes have a limit on them on how much punishment they can take, pushing them beyond that limit will only hurt you.

If you have shin splints, there is other technics that a podiatrist can do to help correct them, so contact Dr. Blaakman at Upstate Footcare today and he’ll help you get back on your feet, and out on the road, park, trail or wherever you like to run.