Shinsplints!

[RemyMartin]

Has anyone else had this? I have had a pain about halfway down the inside of my left calf for a while now. Looking at the runners world site I have self diagnosed shinsplints. Have been resting on and off for about 6 weeks now, although am doing a 10k on sunday. Do I really have to rest until it goes completely? I am rather overweight, so obviously this hasn't helped, but I have entered a half marathon next March and just want to get running properly again! Would really appreciate any advice please.

[fridayschild]

I used to get this when I did a lot of step aerobics. Ice (bag of frozen peas or ice cubes on the shin) to reduce the pain.

Exercise: foot flat on the floor. Keep the heel on the floor and lift up and down from the toes. I used to do this when I remembered on the tube or the bus.

An instructor told me I got the shin splints from doing step as if I was wearing high heels (ie used the ball of my foot too much, not the whole foot, which over emphasised the calf muscles and this pulls something round causing the shin splints). Do you run as if you're on tip toes? Or maybe not stretch enough after a run.

I don't get shin splints from running though, and I do a lot of that now. Good luck with the 10k.

P.S. As you can tell from the delightfully detailed descriptions here I have no relevant qualifications. If Runners World tells you to do something else, you should believe them not me!

[RemyMartin]

Thanks fridayschild I will try that exercise. I'm looking forward to the 10k, it's in a forest so should be nice.
My leg does actually feel a lot better now so hopefully it won't flare up again tomorrow and will let me get on with my running again!