I am having a real hard time with shin splints. I have Saucony - Jazz
shoes - which I bought last August. I have approximately 150 miles on
them tops. I run on asphalt and concrete. I do warm up before I run -
especially focusing on my shins and calves since I know I have them
problem. What can you suggest I do to help with this problem. I am
running now approximately 9 miles per week or 15 kms. which is hardly
excessive. I would appreciate your help. Thanks.
Laurie:
Shin splints, also know as posterior tibial tendonitis, are a biomechanical
problem. They occur because of the excessive work that your posterior tibial
muscles have to do during the deceleration phase of the gait cycle. More than
likely, you suffer from one of two biomechanical defects - either an
uncompensated forefoot varus, or a very rigid supinated foot (there are other
causes, but these two presentations are the ones I see most often). In either
case, bringing the ground up to the foot with an orthotic device is more than
likely a cure. Custom orthotics work best because of the forefoot correction
available to the orthotist, and not many off the shelf devices include a decent
forefoot correction.
As far as your shoes are concerned, at 9 miles a week, you are now into your 5th
month on those shoes. You might consider a new pair. Look at some of the more
rigid shoes, also known as "motion control", and see if they feel comfortable
for you. Check to see where the shoe bends - in the mid-foot or the fore foot,
and make sure that they are not too easy to collapse inward (by twisting the
shoe).
Finally, if this persists Laurie, look into getting further testing, there is a
particular study applied when shin splints are severe and persistant that
measures blood flow in the muscle - a blood doppler - a positive test suggests a
more serious problem - a compartment syndrome, which implies that there is
insufficient blood in the compartment for the muscle to survive, and that in
turn often results in a surgical procedure called a compartment release.
Good luck!
