Talk:Shin splints

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Contents 1 Periostitis disambiguation PLEASE!!! 2 Exercises and stretches for remedying shin splints 3 Orthopedic conditions template suggestion 4 Adding a section for the added resistance to shin splints in the strong 5 Diagram is poor 6 Annoyed 7 Dubious assertion 8 Name for the opposite fallacy?

[edit] Periostitis disambiguation PLEASE!!!

A search for "Periostitis" (that is, inflammation of the "periosteum") links direct to this specific disorder page. Periostitis can occur in any bone with a periosteum, not just the tibia (e.g. periostitis of the jaw, of the eye orbit, periostitis through bone and joint lesions of yaws, syphilis, etc!!!)

[edit] Exercises and stretches for remedying shin splints

I am currently getting back into shape. I'm 24 years old and stopped playing sports at the age of 21. I played soccer for the early years of my life. I am now starting to play Tennis and noticing it's hard to get back into shape due to these shin splints. Does anyone know any good exercises / stretches that I can do to remedy this?

I'd recommend going to www.runnersworld.com They have lots of past articles you can read to get a lot more detail than I could type out here, some specifically on shin splint prevention. You'll definitely want to rest for a day or so, then do those excercises. - Taxman ^Talk 02:32, July 19, 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Orthopedic conditions template suggestion

I have been going through the list of orthopaedic conditions listed as stubs and suggesting this template for Orthopaedic Conditions (see Talk:Orthopedic surgery)
Name
Definition
Synonyms
Incidence
Pathogenesis and predisposing factors
Pathology
Stages
Classification
Natural History/Untreated Prognosis
Clinical Features
Investigation
Non-Operative Treatment
Risks of Non-Operative Treatment
Prognosis following Non-Operative Treatment
Operative Treatment (Note that each operations should have its own wiki entry)
Risks of Operative Treatment
Prognosis Post Operation
Complications
Management
Prevention
History
--Mylesclough 06:27, 8 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Adding a section for the added resistance to shin splints in the strong

There is a link along these lines, the last one, I intend to read up on it. Like any soreness in connective tissue, this should in theory be something that we can improve over time, yes? Exert ourselves until we feel the soreness/pain, rest with nutrition to recover, and it will be stronger? It should also be mentioned how this increases, such as pounding the ground more intensely, a harder surface (like pavement), the weight of the runner (fatness, weighted vest) and the gradual buildup of such tensions during the length of sleep deprivations. In time friends! Tyciol 09:35, 12 February 2006 (UTC)

• When I started running seriously, the above was in fact my approach toward shin splints. I understood what was causing the pain and so I simply worked harder to strengthen the area. I just kept pounding away at the shins until they became stronger. I ran hard down hills, I stretched the muscles after exercise to increase flexibility, I used ice and so forth. The shin muscles grew in size. Raising my toe to flex the shin raised a huge, rock-hard slab on the front of my leg. The shins no longer hurt. No matter what kind of running I did, I simply did not "hear" from that area of the body any longer. But eventually, I ended up with an inflammed tendon in the top of the foot! It hurt to run or walk. Every time I placed the heel down on the ground, followed by the toe, there was pain. If I tried to raise my toe, there was pain (and also a creaking sensation). I went to the running track to pound on the injured area a little bit and discovered that it did not hurt whatsoever during a fast 400 meter repetition! Obviously, that was due to the different running form. So immediately returned to a regular intensity and volume of training, using a different posture and footstrike. I felt no discomfort from the injury, which rapidly recovered. The point is that increased strength and flexibility in the shins might not be the right answer, at least not by itself, because it doesn't eliminate the source of the tension. It's been a few years and I haven't had any problems with those tendons, nor with the shin. The tibialis anterior muscle is still quite large and strong, but not quite like before.--KazKylheku 23:34, 2 March 2006 (UTC)
• By the way, the last link in our article's External Links section ([[1]) is very good. It identifies the true causes of muscle pain in the shin and recommends an interesting exercise that seems like a good alternatives to beating up the shins by downhill running. Check out the Heel Stepdown. --KazKylheku 23:34, 2 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Diagram is poor

Zero sharp 06:57, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Could someone make a better diagram of posture rather than the text-based one on this page. It is hard to understand.

Seriously I agree that diagram is so bad that maybe it should just be taken out.

I agree. The ASCII art is amusing, but nearly useless.

[edit] Annoyed

Not only runners get shin splints. While the basic information is good, I think it should be rewritten to include other forms of activity that can promote shin splints such as dancing, figure skating, gymnastics, ect. Right now it only discusses from the running point of view.

Please clarify the "There may even be immediate discomfort in the muscles from a build-up of lactic acid." Other pages in Wikipedia dispute "Lactic Acid" formation regarding muscles.

[edit] Dubious assertion

This one:

Runners who strike heavily with the heel should look for shoes which provide ample rearfoot cushioning.

I wouldn't say this is not true; I'd say it doesn't make sense. Runners who strike heavily with the heel should stop doing it. Anything else is a palliative measure that ultimately does not work. The so-called motion control shoes give you a degree of protection from your bad technique, but at a price: they are heavier and less flexible, which - ironically - makes it even harder to run in a correct way. So, in short, I don't think this is a good advice. (Though it's very popular - I know that.)

The "upper part" of the article gets it right:

The long-term remedy for muscle-related pain in the shin is a change in the running style to eliminate the overstriding and heavy heel strike.

Still, there is one more crucial point that is perhaps not explained entirely correctly in the article. Running is not properly done on your toes: it's not your toes that strike the ground first, it's the ball of your foot. I've seen the "running on your toes" story dozens of times; of course, when people who hit the ground with their heels first read this, they try it, conclude that it "doesn't work" (of course it doesn't) or is not "right for them", and go back to their old style. Also, the point which some people miss is that you're still allowed to touch the ground with your heels: it's just that they have to come into contact with the ground last, not first.

A warning: IANAD. Of course, this can only mean one thing: I've learned it the hard way.

Finally, a good explanation can be found here. The entire posetech.com site is worth taking a look at. GregorB 22:57, 13 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Name for the opposite fallacy?

Does anyone know why this condition is called this? The standard definition of "splint" is probably not related. Boris B 11:10, 27 November 2006 (UTC)