Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with shinsplints

It's like I'm wearing scuba flippers...

cheeken — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:16:40 -0800

Why do I get floppy feet after I run? They don't hurt, so I don't think they're shin splints...they just flop around when I try to walk. Help? I've searched and searched on the term "floppy feet" which is all I have figured out to call them, and so far, nothing. So, I'm turning to you.

I'm not out of shape (not exactly in shape, either) currently a little overweight (5'9" and 200 lbs), and I box once a week and cycle between 50-75 miles a week with relative ease.

I've always thought about running, but have always had a problem: I can jog/run comfortably for 20-25 minutes, and my legs feel fine, but about 45 minutes after I get back home after the run, I can't really lift up my toes.

Right now, I'm sitting down with my feet flat on the ground, and if I keep my heels down but lift my toes up, I can't lift them up very far (because I got back from running 45 minutes ago). Furthermore, if I try to walk around, it doesn't hurt at all, but my toes kind of slap down on the ground, rather than a smooth heel-toe stride that happens when I'm just walking.

(If it's not clear, I have no real idea how to describe this.)

In the past, I've tried a combo of walking and running, running for shorter periods of time, and while I'm running, things feel fine. But afterward, every time: floppy feet. They usually don't go away for a day or two, also.

Again, there's no pain, so I don't think it's shin splints (I'm open to being wrong on this). So, what's causing my floppy feet? How do I fix it? Am I destined to not be a runner?

Should I work up to running even slower over weeks, even though my heart and lungs feel like they're not getting a workout? Could it be my shoes?

Thanks.

Did road runner have once shin splints?

randomDirtPattern — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:14:29 -0800

I have resumed jogging. However, already after 5 minutes of running, I will have unbearable pain in my lower legs. I might be experiencing "shin splints", and I wonder what are some good ways to prevent/lessen/delay these. I start running, and after 5 minutes I will feel bad muscle pain in the lower-front part of my lower legs. If I continue running for another 5 minutes, I will start running like a duck, as I cannot flex(?) my feet anymore. Another 5 minutes, and I am done and walk back home as a sad duck, although rest of my body is just starting to get warm and I feel like I could have run for an hour if I did not have the terrible pain in my legs. Strangely, this pattern does not seem to change much if I put walking or stretching breaks between these 5 minute sequences. (Although I haven't tried any "5 min run, 10 min walk, 5 min run" kind of extremely loose sequence).

I don't think that I am running too fast, I stretch fairly before I start (and after, when the pain is gone), I am wearing some 'cushion' type of running shoes and I am healthy in general.

I believe this is a bad case of the common shin splints, which should be normal when one is just unfit and needs to get in shape. I wonder if there is anything I can do to reduce or delay this pain. Actually, I don't mind the pain afterwards, since it usually takes 10 min. of rest and then it's gone. I just want to delay the pain, so that I can run longer and so that running is more fun.

I would love to hear from people who had the same problem and how they coped with it... Did you change shoes and the pain was gone? Is there an effective stretching trick? I will be happy to hear some advice or experience.

Give me feet of steel.

middleclasstool — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:42:23 -0800

Resources for exercises for my feet, arches, ankles, and lower legs? I'm a distance runner -- or, more accurately, was one until after my first marathon, when IT Band Syndrome finally caught up with me. I've done physical therapy but will have to go back to the doc's for more treatment. Right now I can't do more than three miles for fear of making things worse.

I'm told the ITBS is likely a result of my overpronation, which I'd like to correct. Inspired by this post, I ran a mile barefoot on the treadmill last night, then spent the rest of the evening walking around barefoot and paying careful attention to feedback from my feet, and learned more about my gait from that than six months of running prior. I found myself working muscles in my feet and lower legs that I didn't even know I had. It was, in short, awesome, and has encouraged me that maybe I can build up muscles to help at least partially correct my gait so maybe I can ultimately transition to a lighter-weight shoe.

Thing is, I'm not finding many resources for strengthening exercises that target ankles, shin muscles and feet for overpronaters, so I turn to you for help. Resources need not be online. Books are good too, though I'd prefer not to kill trees. Give me feet of steel, people.

And yes, I will check with the doctor, but it'll be a bit before I can get in to see her.

Help! Shin splints.

Autarky — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:01:50 -0800

Help, I think I'm getting shin splints! I've started running recently, with the goal of [eventually] building up to a half marathon. I've done a few runs of about 3 miles, and I have the same problem every time.

For the first, say, mile and a half I'm feeling great, then as the run wears on I start to feel a sort of burning in my shins (and sometimes ankles). It gets worse as the run goes one. It goes away not too long after I stop running, but my shins feel kind of sore for a day or two (I'm not running every day, mainly about 3-4 times a week with cross training).

Also, today for the first time I had another problem. About 2-2 1/2 miles into my run I had this weird sensation in my foot, like something was pressing my nerve or something. It basically went away as soon as I stopped running and hasn't bothered me since, but it's a little worrying. My unofficial analysis says that I have moderately high arches and supinate (my shoes get worn along the outside edge)

A few ?s:

Am I correct in guessing that I'm developing shin splints?

If so, what should I do? I know everyone says go to a proper running store, and I'm working on that, but it's going to be very hard. I go to a college in a very rural (read 20 miles from walmart) area and I don't have a car. What other things can I do to help myself?

Ow, my shins, my shins!

SpecialK — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 12:51:02 -0800

What are some good running shoes for someone with shin splints? I'm trying to debug my shin splints issue. I've read the previous threads [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] on running and shin splits.

One of the biggest things that these threads (and teh internets in general) say is to visit a podiatrist, Sports Medicine doctor, or a shoe store with a machine that can help analyze your walk and produce orthotics or shoe reccomendations to correct errors in your running mechanics, stride, or foot configuration.

Problem: I live in the boonies. I work for a university, and while I have access to trainers and other professionals that can help me with my running mechanics, there ain't no such thing as no fancy-pants running an-ah-ly-zer out here, nor are there any sports medicine doctors that my insurance will cover. I work for the state and am not made of money, so I can't pay for a $300 doctor's visit outside of insurance + orthotics cost + shoe cost.

I know that my shin splits are caused by a combination of weak shin muscles, flat feet, and my overpronation(?) -- tendency to roll towards the inside, as evidenced by the wear on the outside heels of my shoes. My shins do a LOT of stabilizing work as I run, and as the muscles tire out, I start to 'clomp' my toe area into the ground heavily. I can't seem to roooooool from heel to toe evenly. I also have to keep those muscles tense and pulling to keep my toes pointed up high enough for my heel to catch the ground as opposed to hitting the ground completely flat footed... which I know means my stride is too long.

I'm working on strengthening the muscles, stretching the tendons, warming up careflly, icing after I exercise, and fixing my stride so that I don't land so heavily. The flat feet and my cheap New Balance shoes aren't helping, so...

I could use some product or, alternately, high-end running store reccomendations in the Houston, TX or Austin, TX areas, as those are the cities I can get to most easily. I'm willing to make the pilgrimage if that's what it takes to stop the pain.

And please don't tell me that running's bad for my health. I enjoy going for a quick run, and it's good for my dog, too. The shin splints problems that I'm having also show up when I'm walking more than two or three miles in a day after not having walked that long in a month or two, so I'd prefer to find good shoes or orthotics that can help me as opposed to "well, stop moving!"

Doctor, will I ever adhere again?

schroedinger — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 11:35:37 -0800

Naught but a month-and-a-half after purchase, near-daily usage of my self-adhering athletic tape has left it unable to adhere to itself. I've been wrapping it around my feet and shins. Is there any way to get its grip back or do I have to purchase more?