Anyone else had shin splints? I've had it for about a year now, it's more of a niggle than a worry. Whats the best way to treat them?
what type of training do you do? and how long have you been doing it?
when i first started Muay Thia it was a bitch on my shins three times a week! Running, Skipping and just being on your toes the whole time takes some getting used to. Blocking one kick in the beginning can really suck with all the strain of just training.
How is the mobility of your feet and ankles? How about the flexibility of your calf, plantar fascia and peroneals? Do you find yourself to be flat footed?
If the plantar fascia are tight it can contribute to flat footedness. Also, if your peroneal musculature is tight, it will pull your foot into eversion and pronation, causing you to be flat footed. To counteract those two situations, you can do some self-myofascial release of your plantar fascia and peroneals and stretch them out well along with your calf.
Also, take a look at your posterior tibialis and other inverter muscles and make sure they are adequate strength and length. If those muscles are too long and/or weak, it will also contribute to a flat foot position.
I have flat feet and battled shin splints for years. After a few minutes of running and/jumping my feet and shins would ache. I wrapped my feet and calves which helped some but wasn't always practical. I finally went to a podiatrist who made me custom insoles for my shoes and problem gone. The insoles cost $350 and they weren't covered by insurance but it's nice to be able to put them in a pair of shoes and go.