Relieving The Pain Of Shin Splints

Question:  What can I do for shin splints?  My doctor once gave me a steroid and that worked really fast as i needed. Its not an emergency anymore, but I would like to be able to go to the gym without hurting myself further.

I know I need new shoes and should do a few things to keep it from happening, but does anyone have any tips for getting them healed faster? i’m going to ice them now…is heat better or ice? any help would be great.

Answer:  You mentioned you need new shoes.  I had shine splints once and it was from walking on my break with the wrong shoes.  I was wearing nylons with a pair of flats and I had to curl my toes to keep the shoes on my feet when I walked, all because I didn’t want to look like a dork in athletic shoes with office clothes on.  I stopped walking for a few days to let my legs recover then I started bringing a pair of socks and walking shoes and no more shin splints from walking.  The only way to stop shin splints is to stop doing the incorrect repetitive motion that’s causing them.

Inflammation needs ice, not heat.  You can also do some stretching exercises.  You can use Bodylastics resistance bands to workout your legs.  They’re not only good for working out the entire body, but physical therapists use bands for muscle rehab because of their low impact and smooth resistance.

Click here for free Bodylastics workouts.  Check out the lengthening and strengthening exercises of the Pilates workouts.  They recently added a new Yogo show, too.