Shins kill me while running....

**Vorpal** · Posted On: 12/23/2008 7:51am

Originally Posted by H TO THE IZZO

I think you're barking up the wrong tree here.

How so?

**Keyboardsamurai** · Posted On: 12/23/2008 10:25am

Damn you're all awesome. Definitely gonna try all this. Yeah I've always tried to set a time/distance and just jog it out.

**TheRuss** · Posted On: 12/23/2008 10:35am

Originally Posted by Vorpal

How so?

Basically, the differences between children and adults running are not simply philosophical - there are some important physiological elements you're neglecting.

1) Growing pains (although Alter says they might not actually be growth-related)
2) Scaling
3) Skeletal immaturity, particularly sex hormone effects on bone rigidity (see this, maybe?)

**omoplatypus** · Posted On: 12/23/2008 10:41am

let them heal fully before running again. try doing eliptical machines and other low impact for a while after they heal.
change your gait, get better shoes, you'll be fine.

**Keyboardsamurai** · Posted On: 12/23/2008 10:43am

Could be my sneakers, they were only 20$

***jnp*** · Posted On: 12/23/2008 10:59am

Originally Posted by Vorpal

When you were a kid you would run all goddamn day every day and never get shin splints. You've never even heard of a kid getting shin splints. Why do we get them?

Gravity and mass. The more you weigh, the more stress your lower joints have to endure during running. So moving 60 lbs. over terrain is a bit less stressful on the joints than moving a 200+ lb. frame over the same area.

Now add in factors like time, bone density, BMI and vascular fitness and it becomes possible to surmise that big people wear out faster.

I know that's a giant leap from where I started. I blame the caffeine.

Edit: Buy some good shoes pronto Keyboardsamurai

**Vorpal** · Posted On: 12/23/2008 12:26pm

Well, I would get absolutely disabling shinsplints. Once I started running my ass off (basically running like a kid) instead of jogging I never got them again.

**MrBadGuy** · Posted On: 12/23/2008 1:00pm

Alright, so now I'm going to give some advice that may or may not be retarded. A football coach told it to me, so take that for whatever the hell that means.

This worked for me (PLACEBO EFFECT MEBBE LOLOLOL?). Maybe it's just Voodoo, but my solution to shin splints was to run backwards at the end of each run. Something about strengthening some muscle somewhere or something. I don't know, it didn't make a lot of sense, but it worked.

Essentially, after you've finished your run/jog/whatevs, you run backwards for about a 1/4th of a mile or so. I also used this as my cool down/relaxation/whatever phase. If your shins start bothering you before you feel finished running, run backwards a good distance and call it a day.

I don't know if it also matters or not, but I was shown to run backwards on the balls of my feet.

Good luck.

**TheRuss** · Posted On: 12/23/2008 1:08pm

Originally Posted by Vorpal

Well, I would get absolutely disabling shinsplints. Once I started running my ass off (basically running like a kid) instead of jogging I never got them again.

Do you sprint on your heels?

**jamesdantes13** · Posted On: 12/23/2008 3:29pm

Originally Posted by Keyboardsamurai

Could be my sneakers, they were only 20$

That may be a factor, but probably more so for your foot/ankle/knees. Proper running shoes will go a long way in preventing injury and the bad kind of pain when running (e.g. blisters).

Once I had to wear some ill-fitting, worn out shoes for a ~6 mile run. I ended spraining both knees (2 months to heal), sprained ankles, and getting many blisters. Probably the worst running experience I've ever had.

Good running shoes typically start at around $60-80. I suggest you find out what your foot type is (high arc, normal arc, flat footed) if you don't already know, then google some shoes that correspond to your type.