It’s one of the most common things I see in my office,” says Jordan Metzl, M.D., a sports medicine doctor at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City and author of “Running Strong“. In fact, one review of research published in the journal “Sports Medicine” found that shin splints—aka medial tibial stress syndrome—were the most common injury plaguing runners.
Pesky shin splints occur when the muscles, tendons, and bone tissue around your tibia become inflamed during repetitive movements like running, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The pain along your shinbone may be sharp or throbbing. “You know you have it if, when you push on your shinbone after a run, it’s sore,” says Metzl. Another tip-off: The pain is causing you to change your stride. (One note: If there’s no pain when you touch the bone, but there’s tightness when you run, that could be what’s called exertional compartment syndrome, which is something else entirely and requires a doctor visit.)
Why they’re here to ruin your run: You’re more susceptible to shin splints if you ramp up mileage too quickly, which can irritate the bone, says Metzl. Transitioning from treadmill to outdoor running or not wearing the right shoes can also contribute, says Nicole Hengels, a certified strength and conditioning specialist (C.S.C.S.), marathon runner, and owner and founder of Momentum of Milwaukee.
Shin splints may also be indicative that something is off with your running mechanics. “Most commonly, a runner’s feet are flat and rolling in (called pronating),” says Metzl. Or, your running stride is too long. “You might feel like you’re running like a gazelle, but this puts more loading force on shins,” he says.
Your bone density may also be low, says Metzl. (Groan.) This can be caused by genetics, dietary problems (if you don’t get enough calcium or vitamin D), or hormonal issues.
Prevent the pain: If you’re a beginner or you’re training for a race, increasing mileage slowly will help prevent shin splints. As a general rule, don’t increase your mileage more than 10 percent each week. (This is where following a training plan by a good running coach can come in handy.)
More than that, you’ve got to correct your running mechanics—otherwise, we can pretty much guarantee those shin splints will come back to haunt you. “Staying off your feet will fix the pain, but not the cause,” says Metzl.
Going to a sports doc is your best bet. You might need arch support for flat feet. Or, you may need a strength routine to target your hips and butt muscles, which will help take force off the shinbone as you run. If there’s a problem with your running stride, you may need to work to shorten it. And head to your local specialty running store for a gait analysis; they’ll also fit you for the proper pair of shoes, adds Hengels.
https://www.skinnymom.com/why-you-get-shin-splints-and-how-to-get-rid-of-them/
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