The experts are not clear as what shin splints are. They may be an irritation to the tendon which attaches the muscle to the bone. Or they may be a muscle irritation or the beginning of a stress fracture.
Active people
have shin splints. For example, 28% of long
distance runners and 22% of aerobic dancers have them.
Symptoms
Pain in the
shins of one or both legs. There may, or may not, be specific area of
tenderness; pain and aching will be felt in the front of the lower leg after,
or during, activity.
Causes
They are
caused by excessive walking, running, or jumping on a hard surface. But other
factors include poor shoes, fallen arches, insufficient warm-up, poor posture,
faulty walking and running techniques, overstraining, or pinched nerves.
Sometimes the
early stages of stress fracture are thought to be shin splints or vice versa.
But there is a difference: stress fractures begin pinpoint pain, about the size
of a dime or quarter, around or on a bony area. A shin splint is a generalized
pain or aching discomfort up and down the whole shin. But, if the problem is
not stopped, shin splints can develop into stress fracture.
Natural treatment and ways to reduce
pain.
1.Athletic trainers call it RICE: rest, ice, compression,
and elevation. Do this for 20-30 minutes. Prop up the leg, wrap it with an Ace
bandage, and place the ice pack on it for 20-30 minutes.
2.An alternate method is a one-minute contrast bath of ice,
followed by a minute of heat. Do this for at least 12 minutes. This is
especially good for pain in the inner leg (rather than the front where the shin
splints occur).
3.Massage the area near the shin splint pain, but not on
it. If you rub on it, the inflammation will worsen. Sit on the floor and
lightly stroke on the sides several times. Then wrap your hands around the
calf; and, with your finger tips, stroke deeply around on each side of the shin
from ankle to knee. Do the entire area, pressing as deeply as possible.
4.Try to correct flat feet or very high arches, if you can.
They can also cause shin splints.
5.The nutritional supplement, MSN (methylsulfonylmethane),
is a form of sulfur that can help reduce muscle soreness and inflammation. Take
1 gram daily.
6.A podiatrist can give you shoe inserts which correct
problems with your gait (orthotics).
Prevention
1.Try to avoid a lot of hard activity on
unyielding surfaces, such as concrete. Even carpet on concrete can cause
problems. Grass or dirt is better than asphalt; asphalt is better than
concrete.
2.Wear good, comfortable shoes; and, when they start
wearing down, buy new ones.
3.Stretch your calves and Achilles tendon frequently. This
helps prevent shin splints. Shortened calf muscles throw more weight and stress
forward to the shins.
To stretch your calves, place your hands on a wall, extend one leg behind the
other, and press the back heel slowly to the floor. Do this 20 times, and
repeat on the other leg.
To stretch your Achilles tendons, have both feet flat on the ground,
about 6 inches apart. Bend your ankles and knees forward while keeping the back
straight. When you achieve tightness, hold it for 30 seconds. Repeat 10 times.
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