Shin Splints - One Of The More Common Sports Injuries:
When I was in High School on the track team, there was one type of injury I heard mentioned often; shin splints. No one ever explained what shin splints really were, but from the way all the other girls talked about them it sounded pretty common condition that happened to runners. For some it turned out to be a minor annoyance, while for others, the shin splints caused much pain that required some time off from running.
Rest, ice and elevation are the best treatments for shin splints. The ice will reduce any inflammation and the elevation of the limb will reduce swelling and fluid build up. In this case, the body can be left to heal itself and rest is most often the best medicine. As an additional measure, you can take ibuprofen to help alleviate the pain.
Perhaps the best treatment for shin splints is prevention. There are a number of exercises that you can do which will strengthen the calf and muscles surrounding your shin. Calf raises, lunges, and a wide range of weight exercises on a power sled will help to build a solid muscle mass around your shin and calf. This increase in strength and stability will enhance your body’s ability to take some abuse and greatly decreases the possibility that the shin splints will be a recurring injury.
If, after several weeks of rest, ice, and elevation you are still experiencing sharp pain when you try to run, it may be time to see a doctor. There is another overuse injury that has similar symptoms, but which may require additional treatment. Stress fractures are painful, and typically require a much longer recovery time. If you allow your shin splint to go unchecked, they can often be the pre-cursor to a stress fracture, so don’t let them linger without some kind of treatment.
Stretching can play a big part in recovery and offer some relief to the shin splints. There aren’t many stretches that work the shins, but a good quadriceps stretch might help. Support yourself against a wall with one hand and pull your foot up behind you. Feel the pulling along the front of your thigh? That is the quad being stretched. Now, if you grab your instep and pull your foot out straight so your toes are pointing at the ceiling you will feel that stretch along your shin. Do this carefully and slowly. Whenever stretching, use slow, fluid movements, never jerk or bounce. The muscles are all connected by tendons and when the quad relaxes, so does everything that is tied to it.
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