Shins Splints - why oh why

Leafing through rec.running, I read a message from [email hidden] of
25 Mar 2005:

Quoted message said:

Thought i found the secret for me, but that belief was shattered this
week. I battled shin splints all week until I got them again today so
bad after only a few miles that i had marble-size knots on both shins,
which i massaged out as best i could, but i'm still left with a
visible bruise where one was.

I thought my secret was to stretch a little, build up to running
almost every day, be extra-careful when coming back after even a short
layoff, and always, always always stay below my "working" pace for the
first mile (only 8:00 to 8:30).

Usually, if i can make it past 2 miles without a hint of shint
splints, i'm free to push myself as hard as i want as long as i can
take it. This would suggest to me i need to warm up more. I can do
this if it's that's reason, but i wonder why i get away with not doing
it more often than not. I've never had anyone evaluate my stride
other than others say it looks efficient. When the shin splnits kick
in, my feet start wapping - not before. Whether psychological or
entirely physical, it's unnerving and it won't be long before i quit
(feel like everyone in the gym is going, "oh, that's gotts hurt." And
it does.
.
I train mostly during my lunch hour, so i'm limited to 30-40
minutes. I go longer on the weekends. I've been getting 4 miles in
lately, and trying to get that down to 30 minutes (7:30). I'm mainly
doing this to get cut up a little for the summer, but as with most
things i enjoy pushing myself and seeing improvement. Before you know
it i'm dreaming of 10k races, half-marathons, then my lifetime dream
of a full marathon.

Basically, the way i want to handle this is to try and loosen the
tibialis muscle as much as possible before training. I bought some
heat wraps today and tried out some heat first and it seemed to help.
It's been 20 hours since the injury though. Ice might have been
better earlier?

I have a slightly different injury. However, some of the treatment involves
stretching/relaxing similar muscles. Mainly the tibialis anterior. Here are
a couple of things you can try:

http://tinyurl.com/45ry2 decribes a methond for self deep tissue massaging
of the tibialis. As well as stretching and strengthening. They also sell
and eBook for $4, which I have purchased. There is a lot of good stuff in
there about injury prevention and recovery.

Also, Ozzie Gontang (maintainer of the rec.running FAQ) has posted some
good advice on shin splints here - http://tinyurl.com/4b9zt

Good luck!

Phil M.

--
Don't quit when the hill is steepest,
For your goal is almost nigh;
Don't quit, for you're not a failure
UNTIL YOU FAIL TO TRY."

--Jill Wolf

Slambram said:

Thought i found the secret for me, but that belief was shattered this
week. I battled shin splints all week until I got them again today so
bad after only a few miles that i had marble-size knots on both shins,
which i massaged out as best i could, but i'm still left with a
visible bruise where one was.

I thought my secret was to stretch a little, build up to running
almost every day, be extra-careful when coming back after even a short
layoff, and always, always always stay below my "working" pace for the
first mile (only 8:00 to 8:30).

Usually, if i can make it past 2 miles without a hint of shint
splints, i'm free to push myself as hard as i want as long as i can
take it. This would suggest to me i need to warm up more. I can do
this if it's that's reason, but i wonder why i get away with not doing
it more often than not. I've never had anyone evaluate my stride
other than others say it looks efficient. When the shin splnits kick
in, my feet start wapping - not before. Whether psychological or
entirely physical, it's unnerving and it won't be long before i quit
(feel like everyone in the gym is going, "oh, that's gotts hurt." And
it does.
.
I train mostly during my lunch hour, so i'm limited to 30-40
minutes. I go longer on the weekends. I've been getting 4 miles in
lately, and trying to get that down to 30 minutes (7:30). I'm mainly
doing this to get cut up a little for the summer, but as with most
things i enjoy pushing myself and seeing improvement. Before you know
it i'm dreaming of 10k races, half-marathons, then my lifetime dream
of a full marathon.

Basically, the way i want to handle this is to try and loosen the
tibialis muscle as much as possible before training. I bought some
heat wraps today and tried out some heat first and it seemed to help.
It's been 20 hours since the injury though. Ice might have been
better earlier?

Couple of things to try. First of all get your hands on "The Stick" to
help roll up and down your shins. Works wonders. If you don't want to
buy a stick, use rolling pin. It really does help massage the shins.
Secondly, there is a good stretch for the shin area that will be hard to
describe in print but here goes:
To first stretch out the right shin.
Standing upright with feet together, raise your right leg and pointing
your foot, cross in front of your left leg and tap your toe on the
ground by your left heel.
This should put your left knee behind your right calf.
Press forward with your left knee, forcing your right leg to bend a bit
and do not allow your right foot to slide forward. Keep your toes
firmly planted on the ground. You should feel a good stretch on your
right shin. It's a great stretch to do prior to a run and also in the
middle of a run if you feel your shins getting tighter.
Good luck,
Steve

Slambram said:

Thought i found the secret for me, but that belief was shattered this
week. I battled shin splints all week until I got them again today so
bad after only a few miles that i had marble-size knots on both shins,
which i massaged out as best i could, but i'm still left with a
visible bruise where one was.

I thought my secret was to stretch a little, build up to running
almost every day, be extra-careful when coming back after even a short
layoff, and always, always always stay below my "working" pace for the
first mile (only 8:00 to 8:30).

Usually, if i can make it past 2 miles without a hint of shint
splints, i'm free to push myself as hard as i want as long as i can
take it. This would suggest to me i need to warm up more. I can do
this if it's that's reason, but i wonder why i get away with not doing
it more often than not. I've never had anyone evaluate my stride
other than others say it looks efficient. When the shin splnits kick
in, my feet start wapping - not before. Whether psychological or
entirely physical, it's unnerving and it won't be long before i quit
(feel like everyone in the gym is going, "oh, that's gotts hurt." And
it does.
.
I train mostly during my lunch hour, so i'm limited to 30-40
minutes. I go longer on the weekends. I've been getting 4 miles in
lately, and trying to get that down to 30 minutes (7:30). I'm mainly
doing this to get cut up a little for the summer, but as with most
things i enjoy pushing myself and seeing improvement. Before you know
it i'm dreaming of 10k races, half-marathons, then my lifetime dream
of a full marathon.

Basically, the way i want to handle this is to try and loosen the
tibialis muscle as much as possible before training. I bought some
heat wraps today and tried out some heat first and it seemed to help.
It's been 20 hours since the injury though. Ice might have been
better earlier?

Couple of things to try. First of all get your hands on "The Stick" to
help roll up and down your shins. Works wonders. If you don't want to
buy a stick, use rolling pin. It really does help massage the shins.
Secondly, there is a good stretch for the shin area that will be hard to
describe in print but here goes:
To first stretch out the right shin.
Standing upright with feet together, raise your right leg and pointing
your foot, cross in front of your left leg and tap your toe on the
ground by your left heel.
This should put your left knee behind your right calf.
Press forward with your left knee, forcing your right leg to bend a bit
and do not allow your right foot to slide forward. Keep your toes
firmly planted on the ground. You should feel a good stretch on your
right shin. It's a great stretch to do prior to a run and also in the
middle of a run if you feel your shins getting tighter.
Good luck,
Steve

Slambram said:

Thought i found the secret for me, but that belief was shattered this
week. I battled shin splints all week until I got them again today so
bad after only a few miles that i had marble-size knots on both shins,
which i massaged out as best i could, but i'm still left with a
visible bruise where one was.

I thought my secret was to stretch a little, build up to running
almost every day, be extra-careful when coming back after even a short
layoff, and always, always always stay below my "working" pace for the
first mile (only 8:00 to 8:30).

Usually, if i can make it past 2 miles without a hint of shint
splints, i'm free to push myself as hard as i want as long as i can
take it. This would suggest to me i need to warm up more. I can do
this if it's that's reason, but i wonder why i get away with not doing
it more often than not. I've never had anyone evaluate my stride
other than others say it looks efficient. When the shin splnits kick
in, my feet start wapping - not before. Whether psychological or
entirely physical, it's unnerving and it won't be long before i quit
(feel like everyone in the gym is going, "oh, that's gotts hurt." And
it does.
.
I train mostly during my lunch hour, so i'm limited to 30-40
minutes. I go longer on the weekends. I've been getting 4 miles in
lately, and trying to get that down to 30 minutes (7:30). I'm mainly
doing this to get cut up a little for the summer, but as with most
things i enjoy pushing myself and seeing improvement. Before you know
it i'm dreaming of 10k races, half-marathons, then my lifetime dream
of a full marathon.

Basically, the way i want to handle this is to try and loosen the
tibialis muscle as much as possible before training. I bought some
heat wraps today and tried out some heat first and it seemed to help.
It's been 20 hours since the injury though. Ice might have been
better earlier?

Couple of things to try. First of all get your hands on "The Stick" to
help roll up and down your shins. Works wonders. If you don't want to
buy a stick, use rolling pin. It really does help massage the shins.
Secondly, there is a good stretch for the shin area that will be hard to
describe in print but here goes:
To first stretch out the right shin.
Standing upright with feet together, raise your right leg and pointing
your foot, cross in front of your left leg and tap your toe on the
ground by your left heel.
This should put your left knee behind your right calf.
Press forward with your left knee, forcing your right leg to bend a bit
and do not allow your right foot to slide forward. Keep your toes
firmly planted on the ground. You should feel a good stretch on your
right shin. It's a great stretch to do prior to a run and also in the
middle of a run if you feel your shins getting tighter.
Good luck,
Steve