Not sure what to do....was told I was getting Shin Splints

Hi Everyone...TGIF!! I have been doing interval running (for me, its running, for others it might be jogging) for a while now...well a few weeks ago, I noticed that the front of my shins were hurting during the run, but not the walk....i ignored it and figured it was just my legs getting used to it or something. Well, now when I walk fast, or run, my right knee gets really stiff, not painful, just stiff. Once i get off the treadmill though and rest or whatever, it goes away. Anyway, I asked a guy at the gym yesterday about it who has done alot of running. He thinks that im getting shin splints and thought maybe it could be contributing to my stiff knee. I dont think so though, reason being, i was in a car wreck years ago that messed up my back and my right knee. Now, my right foot turns out, where my left foot is straight. So, im thinking maybe the stiffness in my knee is because my foot turns out. On to the shin splints, my legs are pretty sore today, but nothing bad....can I prevent them, but still be able to run?? Is it my shoes causing it?? Is it because i have collapsed arches?? I know I can use the elliptical, but i like running! Thanks!!

Hi.. sorry to hear that you are developing shin splints.  One of the best rememdy's for this (according to our running coach) is to use your foot to write imaginary letters of the alpabet in the air.  This will help stretch and strengthen those tendons in the front of your leg.

About your knee, you might go to http://www.runnersworld.com/ and click on the injury prevention tab.  The info there might help, but it almost sounds as if you might have alignment problems in your right leg (since your foot goes out to the side when  you stride) in which case I would see an orothopedic doctor who is also a runner (they are less likely to tell you to stop running ).

Good luck!

Hmm....that sounds like a good idea, but do you try and write every letter? or specific ones? I think I might fall trying that! LOL

Visit a real sports doctor.  They can be so helpful and worth the $.  If you can spare the $ you might even ask the doctor to refer you to a sports physical therapist for some exercises and stretches that will help you with YOUR feet and legs, not just generic stretches.

The stiff knee could actually be arthritis.

Just rest.  Make sure you have adequate rest days where you do not run at all.  Take a little time off from running and crosstrain with something else lower impact  or switch to weight/strength training.  I have had shin splints and other running injuries and rest really is the best medicine.  Also RICE (rest ice compression elevation) and some anti-inflamatory if you do not have other conditions or allergies to it.  I know this is probably not what you want to hear and I am not a doctor at all, but...it's just what I think.

I do the same thing interval running, and I also had the same problem, that my shins would hurt, then I bought new running shoes and  it went away.  I got the Asics gel it's like running on a cloud (for me anyway).  I make sure that I do good shin and calf stretches after I'm done as well as whole body stretch!

Good Luck

people who waste money on sports doctors are idiots... they really are.. You can find stretches and info using this site and searching through a search engine. I had shin splints when i was playing squash. Basically interval sprinting while your playing a game. I don't think it was my shoes, b/c I would be training in them for a couple hours a day and I only got the shin splints in matches b/c I was running the hardest imaginable. My coach showed me a couple exercises. A calf exercise which is pretty easy: just lean ur foot against the wall with toes pointing up and reach for them. for direct shins get down on ur knees and lean as far back as u can and hold it.

Thanks for the replies! Im going to get new shoes soon and if those dont take care of it, then im going to stay off the treadmill for awhile and use the elliptical.

I dont have the extra money for a sports doctor...plus like Rgupta19 said, i can find stretches and such on here that could help.

Original Post by rgupta19:

people who waste money on sports doctors are idiots... they really are..

wow. Don't hold back!

So, you're saying that I am an idiot and that all people who visit sports doctors are idiots?  Nice attack on an entire segment of the population there.   Good job!

So, are you a doctor?

@ the OP, by the way, I HAD shin splints and that stiffness of the knees does not sound like shin splints.  You might want to get it looked at some day.

The running community is notorious for pushing through terrible injuries and further hurting themselves.  If you are really in a bad way, then don't let this cultural mindset push you to hurt yourself even more.

edited for clarity and to reply to bombast

I get shin splints if I don't stretch properly. After having been sidelined from running for a week (which was hell for me), stretching has become like breathing... an everyday requirement. Don't just stretch before you workout, but also various times throughout the day. Very good for you. Make sure that you do stretch before you run though and also stretch afterwards as well when your muscles are "warmed up". Hold your stretches for 10-15 seconds. These are just little secrets I've learned from various sources at my gym.