Treating Shin Splints
If you've ever had shint splints you know that they can make life miserable. There's nothing worse than a searing pain in your lower legs that won't go away! Here are a few things you can do to help lessen the pain and treat your shin splints:
* Rest - The best and most immediate treatment, although not always the most practical
* Ice - Applying ice immediately after exercise can lessen the pain and inflammation
* Switch exercise type - Try non-weight bearing exercises like swimming or bike riding
* Stretch - Do stretches for your calf muscle and Achilles tendon every day
* Massage - Some people find relief in a massage from a sports therapist
* Wraps/Sleeves - Wrapping your lower leg with a bandage or special sleeve can help prevent and treat shin splints in many cases
More info:
How to Manage Shin Splints
Mark Jenkins, MD: Shin Splints

5 Comments:
I've had shin splints a couple times, and have always found it beneficial to do calf raises a few times a week. This seems to help get rid of shin splints as well as prevent them.
thanks for the advice and links... I've been struggling with shin splints on and off all year with no joy and it's ruined my whole years worth of races! And to think it's just a bit of swelling up... cruelty!
A friend of mine got shin splints and even though he was on a team and got treatment and a lot of medical attention, he got a blood clot and had to go through surgery. I'm getting shin splints all the time, I usually just massage the spots and stretch, but it sucks when I go to a race and I can't pick up my pace because every time I step on my foot I feel a stabbing pain in my calves... :( My cross-country coach makes me run on grass and that helps A LOT to prevent shin splints AS WELL AS hip pain (that I also get)!
Here is an article with more info on shin splints Shin Splints
I have had slight but chronic shin and ankle pain for the past few months now. I am an active swimmer and runner. Tonight I have swimming practice and it's only for an hour, so will this affect my leg at all? PLEASE HELP!
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