Shin Pains, Wrong Runners?

Nuttzz

I cant seem to run very far now without getting crippling pains in my shins, I do a proper warm up and stretch however 2-3 minutes into the run the ache starts, my runners are falt (no arch support of note) and I think this is the cause, anyone have any ideas?

BaZmO*

Nothing really to do with your runners. What you're suffering from is something called Shinsplints. I get them quite a lot and it's mainly a result of doing too much too quick. Do a search on the Fitness forum and you'll find loads of info on them.

B.

copacetic

flat runners would definitely be a major cause of this, along with running on concrete and doing to much too soon as said above, a lot of people who get them find a change of shoes will sort it out...

Cerdito

I had this pretty bad a couple of years ago...they affected my back as well, apparently it's all linked together...shins, hamstrings, back.

Anyway, I went to a physio who sorted me out with some inserts for my shoes. She did an assesment, it depends how much of an angle your feet need to be adjusted by. If it isn't too much (<5 degrees I think) you can buy them off the shelf (mine were around €50 - 3 years ago mind). Otherwise they need to be custom made (>€200).

These completely solved my shin splints (and back) problem and I still have the inserts today. The only pain is having to rip out the insoles in new shoes...some of them are are glued in pretty tight!

jester77

It could be the shoes. I had something like this and thought it was shin splints but it wasn't. So long ago I forget but have it looked at.
Some stores will have someone who will be able to advise and recommend a shoe for you based on your running technique and the shape of your foot. Asics have a good shoe profiler on their website, worth having a look at.

FrankGrimes

don't mess around with shin splints. I've had them on and off for years, and then 3 years ago I damaged my lower back. this put added pressure on the legs and I ended up not being able to walk when the shin splints kicked in. i was inches away from getting a stress fracture which is what shin splints untreated can cause. my stubborness, and boxing culture which had me in the mindset that if you can run, then run no matter how bad it hurts, has cost me dearly as its 3 years later and the back is just as bad as ever.

this may or may not be shin splints, but go to a GOOD physio to get it checked out.

get some toilet paper and lay it out on the floor. wet your bare feet a bit and walk over the toiler paper using your natural gait. if its mainly the outside of your foot that marks the paper around the middle/arch of the foot, it is likely that you over-pronate which causes shin splints.

orthotic inserts may remedy this, but the condition is likely to have impaired your flexibility so ask your physio for an extensive range of hamstring and calf muscle lengthening exercises

SparkyLarks

Go to a running shop if you can.
a very common cause of shin splints is having the wrong type of shoe.

basicially ther are two types of shoes availible off the shelf,
ones for people with good arches
ones for people with flat(er) feel.

The arch is central to your movement when running.
If you have an arch you shoe should be able to bend the whole way along, basicially your arch does the work.

If your foot is flat then you need a shoe with an arch suport so the shoe does the work the arch should be doing.

If you have very flat feet you might need special shoe made.

Oh and make sure that your not using old shoes. a lack of cushioning will contribute to shin splints.