Based in North Carolina, Jayne Lessard is a private practice therapist with a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Wheaton College in Illinois. In her free time, Jayne Lessard enjoys staying active by running, hiking, and cycling.
Runners confront many obstacles and potential injuries, with one of the most common being shin splints. The term shin splints refers to the throbbing pain runners experience in their shins after or during their run. Athletes often get shin splints after they increase their workouts too quickly or run on a new surface. Shin splints are also caused by stress fractures in the lower leg bones and overused muscles. Flat feet might also cause shin splints.
Luckily shin splints can heal on their own. Runners are advised to rest and postpone training until the pain eases. Doctors recommend icing the shins 20 to 30 minutes per day every four hours for several days or until the pain is gone. Runners can also take anti-inflammatory painkillers to help with the pain. If the pain does not go away quickly, the situation may require a medical professional’s assistance.