Does anyone have these after exercise? I think I might. I used to get them when I ran track YEARS ago, and sometimes get them a little bit when I'm walking for exercise. Recently I've set my treadmill to incline for walking, and the next day my shins hurt so bad it hurts to walk and definitely to treadmill again!
Does anyone experience this and do you know of anything I can do to help prevent them? I usually stretch beforehand and after, and always do a warm-up of slower walking at the beginning. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

By Trina~moderator on Friday, September 30, 2005 - 03:12 pm:

Oh, I remember getting shin splints from track. Not fun! Our coach always blamed them from not stretching properly before running. We had to stand on an inclined board against the wall for about 30 minutes as part of warm up. Of course we hated it. However, that was 25 yrs. ago so they must have something better now. LOL!

By Dawnk777 on Friday, September 30, 2005 - 03:21 pm:

I can get them from walking uphill too much! LOL!

By Kaye on Friday, September 30, 2005 - 03:25 pm:

Stretching is the right thing to do. Chances are you aren't stretching it right though. You should be doing three stretches for the lower part of your legs. First the classic runner stretch, hand agains the wall front leg bent, back leg straight, this stretches the calf. You should hold for 10 seconds and do it 5-10 times. Do each leg. Then you want to do that same pose, but this time, bend both legs. Make sure you are putting weight on that back leg (the first stretch more weight is on the front leg). This stretches those side muscles of your calf. Stretch three requires you to stand on a curb, or somehting similar. Out all yoru weight on your left foot, while on the curb, facing away from the street, Take your right foot, drop it down and ppoint your toe and push it against the curb, this stretches more of the shin. You will feel when you do it right.

I tore my calf muscle 2 years ago and spent 2 months in therapy learing how to treat my legs right! I play competive tennis and just had no idea, i used to only do the runners stretch.

By Luvn29 on Friday, September 30, 2005 - 03:32 pm:

Ugh! I had these so bad when I ran track in high school that both of my shins had to be taped prior to every track meet! It helped the pain somehow, but I don't know exactly what it did for them. I just know I couldn't have run without doing it.

By Reds9298 on Sunday, October 2, 2005 - 01:47 pm:

Sorry it's taken me so long to get back! Thanks for the info everyone, and for the great stretching info Kaye. I will try those!