Running Injuries - Shin Splints

In the last few weeks, I have had some folks come in and ask what to do about their shin splints.  I suffered with this throughout my whole first marathon season.  I know how painful this condition is.  I am reposting an

article that I had on the site back in May.  This may help to answer some of your questions.

Many athletes get shin splints -- also called tibial stress syndrome -- at one time or another. Whether you jog daily or just had to sprint to catch a bus one day, you may have shin splints when you feel throbbing and aching in your shins. While they often heal on their own, severe shin splints can ruin your game.

Shin splints aren't really a single medical condition. Instead, they're just a symptom of an underlying problem. They might be caused by:

·         Irritated and swollen muscles, often caused by overuse.

·         Stress fractures, which are tiny, hairline breaks in the lower leg bones.

·         Overpronation or ''flat feet" -- when the impact of a step causes the arch of your foot to collapse, stretching the muscles and tendons.

Shin splints are very common. They're the cause of 13% of all running injuries. Runners might get them after ramping up their workout intensity, or changing the surface they run on -- like shifting from a dirt path to asphalt. 

Click here for the full article from WebMD.