Shin Splints

When I first began running I would always get shin splints.  Shin splints are very uncomfortable and they make it very hard for a runner to get up and run another day.  Shin splints are a pain in the front of your lower legs known as Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome. Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome effects about sixty percent of runners over all other running injuries.  Shin splints often become noticeable after a few weeks of increasing your training as a runner. Shin splints usually come about because of too much medial foot pressure.  When you run and your heel strikes the ground, too much pressure can be transferred towards your arch and medial column of your forefoot.  This can cause altered internal rotation of the tibia and pressure on the front of  your leg.  Soon after your run you will begin to notice the pain.  Also, they can be caused by your legs not being very strong.  It is important for runners to have strong muscles in their lower legs as well as their upper legs.  Weak lower leg muscles leads to early fatigue and over pronation. Beginner runners with weaker legs are about four times more likely to have shin splints.  Lastly, you can develop shin splints by running too much in the beginning with too high of intensity.  This happened to me often when I began running.  There are many exercises and activities you can do to decrease your chances of developing shin splints.  These can be found at: http://www.active.com/running/Articles/7-Tips-to-Beat-Shin-Splints.htm.

Sources found at:
"7 Tips to Beat Shin Splints." Active.com. Web. 29 Feb. 2012. <http://www.active.com/running/Articles/7-Tips-to-Beat-Shin-Splints.htm>.