Get rid of shin splints

Introduction to shin splints

Shin splints are a condition that runners will get frequently and they will cause a bagging pain in the shin area.

Most athletes and runners will have to face shin splints at some point or another, and even ,the greatest athletes are not immune to this problem.

Shin splints occur when the leg muscles naturally wear out during to excessive running or walking, but thankfully, there are effective methods for getting rid of them.

Shin splints can result from nerve irritations, tendonitis and stress fractures. When the leg muscles are overused, the shin bone is also being overused and shin splints will occur. The constant puling of the muscles will cause a tearing in the muscles that will make them inflamed.

Specifically, the inflammation of the anterior tibia muscles in the leg is what leads to shin splints most of the time.

Posterior shin splints can also be caused by foot and leg imbalances, especially in people who have flat feet or are obese.

Causes

There are many different causes that can lead to shin splints, and some of them are unavoidable, especially for athletes.

If a person just begins to take up an activity like running, they will probably get shin splints because of improper technique and because they are not used to such workouts and their muscles have not adapted to the strain yet.

Tight Achilles tendons and calf muscles can also lead to the condition. People can also get shin splints when they are running uphill or running on concrete. Sudden decreases or increases in the speed of the runner can also cause the muscles to tear and lead to shin splints.

Another injury that can lead to shin splints is when a person lands on the balls of their feet when running or when they are leaning backwards or forwards instead of running with a straightened-out back.

People who do not wear the proper shoes for sporting activities are not getting the needed support and will probably develop shin splints as well.

Treatment

The first thing a person needs to do in order to threat shin splints is to find out what is causing it and change the activity so that it will not be detrimental to the muscles if continued.

Above all, people need to rest their legs and use ice packs to alleviate the swelling and inflammation.

The RICE technique of rest, ice, compression and elevation should be implemented in order to treat shin splints.

However, it is also important to not be completely inactive during the healing period, and a person should continue with some walking or light jogging.

A moist heat and massage regime will help when the pain intensifies. It is also very important to stretch the legs properly before doing any kind of physical activity in order to avoid shin splints.

If a person is going to be involved in serious physical activities, then they must warm up properly and get the muscles stretched out and warm before begging to use them so aggressively.