Shins hurt when running

[Pkhamidar2com]

hey, i dont do alot of running, like i only started doing running but still then bearly that much

but for some reason my shins hurt now...

like if i squat down, and then go onto my toes in the bottom squat position, then put more weight on the shin that hurts more... i feel more pain...

what is this, what should i do?

[Frodocious]

Sounds like you may have shin splints, I had them a few weeks a back and the best thing to do is to rest and limit impact on your shins. Icing helps. You can try writing the alphabet (in the air) with your toes to help strengthen the muscle at the front of your shins.

[Old_kyokushin]

Stop running - stop squatting - don't go on your toes - don't add weight - tell us more.
How old are you - how long have you been running - What distance do you run - on what surface - what shoes do you use - what is your sports background & level of fitness? When is the last time you ran and for how long?

Thank you

Osu!

[Pkhamidar2com]

i dont do squats, ok ill stop running, but i still want to attend martial arts class... Can i still practice my kicks and stuff?

Is it ok if i go on the bike as my cardio?

im 16 years old. I havnt really been running but recently, like a week ago, i think like 3 days a week i been running. Its outside on the concrete. I wear old shoes, they dont fit me but they are my garden shoes. They are like slippers where you just slot your feet in, the back of the shoes are broken and bent inwards.

I go swimming often, i do cardio often, i dont really know how fit i am but i started running to increase stamina.

last time i ran was on martial arts lesson and that was for about 5 minutes or so on wooden floor. Before that i ran outside on the concrete outside my house on the road for about 10 minutes or so. Not long. I was doing sprints and also jogging.

Im very used to being on my toes at home because i try to naturally keep on the balls of my feet, so when it comes to sparring its not really a problem.

what should i do?

i still want to do cardio to increase stamina, what cardio can i do, i can only go swimming i once a week, the rest of the days i just go on my bike. I would say the bike is my main source of cardio.

[Knight_Errant]

Right, well it looks like you have your first case of shin splints. Don't worry, this isn't a major drama. Just stop running for a couple of days until the pain stops, and it'll go away on its own.

[Old_kyokushin]

Thanks for your replies.

0- take as many days rest as you need for the pain to subside - it is likely only DOMS on the tibialis anterior (the muscle in the front of your leg that lifts your foot toes up), but it might be the start of shin splints like Frodocious said, and you do not want to aggravate that.
1- get some good running shoes. (yes, they are expensive, but hey, it is your pain and your body!)
2- find a grassfield to run on.
3- start slow, shorter distances & not too frequently (like 4 days rest in between), until your body adapts to the stress.
4- walk on your feet, not on your toes (what idea is that to train sparring all day long anyway???)... unless you do boxing, you won't spar on your toes.
5- you can jump rope for your stamina (but that won't help if you have shin splints) or swing a kettle bell, or do burpees...

6- drop by the next track & field while the guys are training, and kindly ask an athlete or the trainer to take a look at your stride... Very likely they'll be happy to give you a few pointers to fix the many problems you have in your posture and movement)


I hope that helps :)


Osu!

[Pkhamidar2com]

hmm ok, i dont have a kettle bell, but i dont mind doing burpees, but is it ok to do bikes or do you think that will aggrevate my shin splints?

damit i cant afford those running shoes, im not rich, not rich at all... and its way too expensive for me :( if i could afford running shoes iw ould have bought a bag, but even thats expensive...

not blaming you btw, im just annoyed at how expensive they are! like 50 pounds!!! so expensive!

[Frodocious]

Cycling should be ok on your shins - if it hurts stop doing it. Just don't do anything that causes impact to your shins - running, jump rope, even burpees might hurt. You don't necessarily need and expensive pair of running shoes, a good pair that fit you well would help - look at what's in the sales.

[Pkhamidar2com]

ok will do,

i just iced my shins for about an hour or so. Ill use biking as my primary cardio from now on.

ill also practice kicks but ill do them light...

btw you said you dont go on your toes when sparring. But i thought thats how you keep light and explosive. If your flat on the feet, or if im flat on my feet i dont react as well.. if im on the balls i can move around much better, jump from side to side...

i just find it easier...

[lord-humungous]

As you run more, your body will become "conditioned" for running and this won't be an issue.

[Mitch]

ok will do,

i just iced my shins for about an hour or so. Ill use biking as my primary cardio from now on.

ill also practice kicks but ill do them light...

btw you said you dont go on your toes when sparring. But i thought thats how you keep light and explosive. If your flat on the feet, or if im flat on my feet i dont react as well.. if im on the balls i can move around much better, jump from side to side...

i just find it easier...

Depends on your art. WTF TKD sparring is often balls of the feet, others aren't.

Just to echo O_K's advice on running on grass/off hard surfaces. I've had shin splints on two occasions and they can mess you up pretty badly. I then started running almost exclusively on grass/earth/gravel paths or similar off-road surfaces, to the extent that I'll walk or drive half a mile to get to one in order to run for anywhere between 4-13 miles.

Personally I wont run on roads/pavements again if I can help it, but I'm fine with doing a reasonable mileage each week as a result. Running is great, you just have to understand that just because your cardio is up to it, doesn't mean your body is; you have to build up like with any exercise.

Mitch

[joshbrown]

anyone ever tried (or talked with anyone who has) one of these band type thingines?
http://www.braceshop.com/productcart/pc/BioSkin-Shin-Splint-Band-with-Pad-38p286.htm