Lyle
Your shin pain could be coming from some restriction going on in your
foot right after your heel strike. That would prevent the very limited
but much needed internal rotation of the tibia as the foot becomes
loaded.
Try standing bare foot in a full-length mirror. Stand on one foot and
try a mini-squat while looking at the change in your arch height.
Compare R to L.
You could also try to self mobilize your foot. Cross one foot on the
opposite knee. Hold your forefoot to prevent any movement(L foot- hold
R thumb at big knuckle of big toe while wrapping other fingers around
towards little toe. Push thumb while pulling your fingers. Then reach
with other hand to onto heel and try to move it left to right relative
to you standing.)
While doing this you may pop and crack if there are some restrictions
in the foot. The side motion of the heel is very important in allowing
the arch to collapse and become a rigid lever during the toe-off phase.
Before switching feet, stabilize the heel after pushing it to the side
(lateral) then switch between pushing your thumb on the big toe and
pulling the other toes toward you. Then switch to pull the big toe and
push on the other toes.
That should unlock some tension in your foot and you might notice more
movement in your feet as you walk around. If that helps let me know.
These and some other things have really helped me get back into running
after some severe ankle sprains and back injury.
Oh, before mobilizing your feet try this before then after and compare
in the mirror and how it feels: Stand on both feet normal width with a
slight bend in the knees as you shift to a 'knock-kneed' position
(putting more wt. on the inside or medial part of the foot) then shift
weight to the outside of your foot making the arch reallly high.
Take Care
Wes
