Shin splints can be extremely painful and deter even the most determined individual from participating in their regular exercise routine. There are a variety of reasons for shin splints to occur, as well as ways to get rid of shin splints and prevent shin splints from occurring in the future.
What are Shin Splints?
Shin splints can cause mild to severe discomfort for several days. The term “shin splints” is often used to describe a medical situation in which the muscle tissue has torn from the front of the leg (also known as the tibia.) If you’ve already developed shin splints, there are a few ways to help cure the aches and pains. Symptoms of shin splints include a general feeling of pain and discomfort in the front area of the leg, known as the shin.
Shin splints most often occur when an individual participates in running, jogging or brisk to mild walking.
How to Get Rid of Shin Splints
There are several ways to treat shin splints. Before beginning any at-home medical regimen, be sure to consult your doctor first. This article is not meant to replace professional medical help or represent a professional medical opinion.
To help with the pain of shin splints, many doctors will recommend taking an anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen. This will help reduce swelling as well as easing much of the pain caused by the shin splints.
It is also important to give the legs plenty of rest. During daily downtime, you can apply ice to the shins of the legs. You can also apply heat if you prefer. Some doctors will recommend a regimen of heat and massaging in order to speed up the healing process.
How to Prevent Shin Splints
If you’re a regular runner or you intend to become a regular runner; then it is important to stretch properly and thoroughly every day prior to running or jogging. Proper stretching will reduce and eliminate shin splints because your muscles were warmed up prior to beginning any vigorous exercise. Running without warming up (especially on concrete,) is extremely dangerous because certain individuals (depending on their current health,) can become more seriously injured in a variety of ways.
Regular exercise and running will also help reduce and eliminate shin splints. If possible, consider running on grass next to the sidewalk; softer surfaces are less stressful to the muscles and can aid in healing shin splints.
