Shin splints - gel insole or orthotics ?

miller82

i have always had shin splints due to having flat feet but they are getting worse. i am playing a fair bit of football (GAA) and doing some running myself so i know this hasnt helped.
I know most people will probably say rest is the only answer, but if i ignore that...............
What would be best to get orthotics or gel insoles ? or is their an alternative ?
I found a physio site that sells all this gear and they have orthotics for 20 quid :eek: but for playing sports would gel insoles be better ?

Cheers

digme

Are you getting them from playing matches or running on the road?
I assume it's the latter,if that's the case it's your runners are the problem.
You need runners with flat soles,just like your football boots,those big clunky nikes are doing you more harm than good.

miller82

i've had them for years
starting wearing proper runners the last two or three years . i have a good pair of NB at the moment.
to behonest i dont think i'm getting them specifically from either. i really think its down to the fallen arches.
Obviously running on hard surface tends to make them worse

digme

I don't get them any more as i've built up my legs running on the balls of my feet while wearing racing flats.I sent you a pm

d'Oracle

Have you tried a Chiropodist/podiatrist?

miller82

d'Oracle wrote: »

Have you tried a Chiropodist/podiatrist?

never even heard of the word

miller82

digme wrote: »

I don't get them any more as i've built up my legs running on the balls of my feet while wearing racing flats.I sent you a pm

cheers

digme

d'Oracle wrote: »

Have you tried a Chiropodist/podiatrist?

have you tried evolution?

Lloyd Xmas

Hi,

You could give these a go http://www.asics.ie/running/products/gel-evolution-men/ or alternatively check out the Brooks website.

Brooks have really good runners to suit all foot types, and they've got free shipping I think on their website.

I had shin splints previously and starting to buy the correct footwear certainly went a long way to clearing it up.
Also if you run on hard ground at the moment, try taking advantage of the long evenings to find a green space instead.
I did this for a while, then after things cleared up, I was able to go back running on the hard ground without any re-occurence.

d'Oracle

digme wrote: »

have you tried evolution?

I don't get it.

bungaro79

miller can't imagine the insoles for 20 quid would be great, get yourself a proper pair of orthotics, not cheap but worth every penny in my opinion. i used to get shin splints every year too training on hard ground and used to spend a fortune on physios but orthotics have changed all that.

digme

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1170253/The-painful-truth-trainers-Are-expensive-running-shoes-waste-money.html

This sums it up quite nicely.

sfag31

I had shin splints once. Cant see how anything in the show will make a difference.
Rest of course will fix - it can take months.
orthotics should to be custom made - costs hundreds - and are to do with arches.

Shin Splints just means your legs are unaccustomed to the exercise. They are fractures and take time to heal.

d'Oracle

digme wrote: »

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1170253/The-painful-truth-trainers-Are-expensive-running-shoes-waste-money.html

This sums it up quite nicely.

Oh right, the barefoot thing.
Its grand if you are into it, I'm sure.

Having had problems related to flat feet in the past, I have found that properly designed orthotics helped immensely.

Which is not to say that toe running/barefooting is a bad idea, I certainly wouldn't write it off with a smart remark.

miller82

and can the orthotics be worn when playign sport or would you not need to wear them then ?

d'Oracle

miller82 wrote: »

and can the orthotics be worn when playign sport or would you not need to wear them then ?

Best to ask the person who issued the orthotics.

I could tell you what I do, but that isn't what I was told to do so would be fairly poor advice to follow.