Anyone have any advice for shin splints?
Anyone have any advice for shin splints?
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/10/04
Anyone have any advice for shin splints?#1
Posted: 1/5/09 at 2:58pm
Ouch!
Should I exercise through the pain or stop as soon as I start to feel the discomfort? Should I focus on warming up before and after I exercise? Should I focus on strengthening those muscles in the from of the shin? Should I invest in really expensive shoes (recommendations?) for exercising? Should I do all of the above?
re: Anyone have any advice for shin splints?#2
Posted: 1/5/09 at 3:02pmIn my experience- shin splints don't last that long. I have always done stretches to help. Just flex your foot and then point your foot. You can even do this sitting down. I have also done calf stretches to help. Or you can stand, bend your knee, and then lift the top part of your foot up and down (of course- one leg at a time). Ben Gay also helps. Good luck!
re: Anyone have any advice for shin splints?#2
Posted: 1/5/09 at 3:06pm
Since you're posting here, does this mean you have self-diagnosed shin splints?
I have had shin splints in the past, as has my daughter. There isn't much you can do, but if your current exercise takes place on an extremely hard surface like a street or sidewalk, you'd probably be better off getting to a track, gym or treadmill. The softer surface will be easier on your legs. If you're wearing good, supportive shoes, then there's no reason to invest in expensive shoes (hard to respond since I don't know what you mean by 'expensive'). You can exercise through shin splints, depending on the severity and your ability to tolerate pain. Post-exercise ice/elevation/ibuprofin should help.
anyone have any advice for shin splints?#3
Posted: 1/5/09 at 3:07pmamputation. it's the only way to be sure.
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re: Anyone have any advice for shin splints?#4
Posted: 1/5/09 at 3:07pmWhen mine act up, I've found that it's best to rest it out.
re: Anyone have any advice for shin splints?#5
Posted: 1/5/09 at 3:10pm
"amputation. it's the only way to be sure."
Also good advice for a headache.
re: Anyone have any advice for shin splints?#6
Posted: 1/5/09 at 3:12pm
I had that condition and it's gone forever.
All I had to do is see a foot doctor, was fitted (through a plaster cast) for orthotics which I insert into my shoes. Shin splints gone.
re: Anyone have any advice for shin splints?#7
Posted: 1/5/09 at 4:51pmI had horrible shin splints when learning jig choreography for a production of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. My shins were swollen twice their size. I found that icing them for 5 minutes three times a day did the trick.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/19/08
re: Anyone have any advice for shin splints?#8
Posted: 1/5/09 at 4:54pmSeconding the stretching and orthotics advice. Try storebought arch supports for both your regular and workout shoes for a while to see if they help. If so, keep wearing them, or get fitted for custom ones (which are pretty expensive but they're worth it).
re: Anyone have any advice for shin splints?#9
Posted: 1/5/09 at 4:55pm
Get yourself a dedicated pair of running shoes if you don't have them already. Go to a running store and have them watch you run. They will tell you what type of running shoes you need. What is worse paying $150 for a pair of shoes at worst or a $500+ doctor bill down the road? (You can always get shoes through discounters once you figure out which ones work best for you.)
You also need to replace running shoes every 400 to 500 miles of running. If you haven't replaced them recently that could be the problem as well.
re: Anyone have any advice for shin splints?#10
Posted: 1/5/09 at 5:21pm
To add to my experience with the foot doctor. He said that the shin splints were caused by an improper step by my feet. He demonstrated the correct way to walk or run, and then the way I was walking. It's about the imbalance of weight on the foot.
In case I'm not clear, lol. Some people may walk with a roll to their feet, which might put more weight on the heel, or maybe on the outside edge of the foot, etc.
the orthotics correct this imbalance to make sure your foot hits the ground the right way.
worked wonders for me!
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/10/04
re: Anyone have any advice for shin splints?#11
Posted: 1/5/09 at 8:39pmGreat advice from everyone. Thank you.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/30/08
re: Anyone have any advice for shin splints?#12
Posted: 1/5/09 at 8:44pmMake sure that you do not have any stress fractures, which sometimes mimic shin spin pain (another reason not to self-diagnose).
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/10/04
re: Anyone have any advice for shin splints?#13
Posted: 1/5/09 at 9:23pmI made an appointment with my doc for next week just to check to be sure that my shin splints are nothing more serious than a nuisance.
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