General Discussion Triathlon Talk » shin splints Rss Feed  
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2006-03-07 1:44 PM

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Pro
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Simpsonville, SC
Subject: shin splints
Does any one have advise about the best way to recover from this? Here is my deal. I made the mistake of doing hill runs in old shoes and now I've got a doosy of a shin splint in my right leg. I took two weeks off and concentrated on swimming and cycling and used an elliptical trainer for a few 30 minute workouts. I ran a 10K race this past Saturday (I'd already sent my money in pre-shin splint) and I can feel the pain in my ankle again. My next event is a sprint tri at the end of April. I am a slow runner and I fear losing even more speed with more time off. Any ideas?

Pam


2006-03-07 1:50 PM
in reply to: #363328

Elite
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Laurium, MI
Subject: RE: shin splints

Ice it every night, regardless if it hurts or not.  They take a full 3 weeks past the point you don't feel them to heal.  So keep icing and taking it easy.  Take a Dixie cup, fill it with water and freeze.  Peel the bottom off and use it to massage your shins where that bruising feeling is.

During your time off, replace running with eliptical training and pool running.  I'm in the middle of fighting mine and I picked up an extra day of yoga to help stretch that muscle out.  So far it's working out alright.

If you keep up with the eliptical and pool running, you may actually end up faster coming out of recovery then you were when you had to stop. 

2006-03-07 2:05 PM
in reply to: #363328

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The Original
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Raleigh/Durham
Subject: RE: shin splints

Ditto what he said.  When you start back running, try to run on soft surfaces like high school track or dirt.  Avoid concrete- that's just asking for shin splints all over again!

Be careful with shin splints and let them recover- you don't want to end up with a stress fracture!

2006-03-07 2:18 PM
in reply to: #363328

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Pro
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Simpsonville, SC
Subject: RE: shin splints
Thanks for the info. I will ice it every night and I will NOT run on it. Matt, I'm going to print your response and carry it with me to the pool. It would be so nice to come out of this faster and pain-free.



Pam
2006-03-07 2:34 PM
in reply to: #363328

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Extreme Veteran
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Provo, UT (my heart is in Seattle)
Subject: RE: shin splints
You can also run on soft surfaces for a while as your shins heal. When I develop shin splints I head for the trails and grass runs. It significantly reduces the pounding, duh? Sometimes I'm so good at stating the obvious that I amaze myself!

Edited by Drewwhite 2006-03-07 2:34 PM
2006-03-08 12:12 PM
in reply to: #363328

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Extreme Veteran
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Madison, WI
Subject: RE: shin splints
Barghead --

are you running with orthotics in your shoes? If not, buy an OTC pair at any running store. I have "powerstep" orthotics, and they have eliminated my shin splints (which used to be debilitating.) Hope that helps.


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