How-to Treat Shin Splints

Shin splints, a runner’s worst nightmare, come and go as they please stubbornly affecting routine runs. The pain levels can vary, but it usually starts with a dull pain in the lower inside portion of your shin. However, when not treated properly, shin splints can become excruciatingly painful expanding all the way up your shin to the knee.

I have struggled with this nagging injury for a little over six years now. After seeing various doctors, getting x-rays and bone scans, customizing orthotics, and wearing shin sleeves, it is safe to say I have tried everything in the book. Throughout this endless journey, I discovered what works for me and what doesn't. For those of you who understand this injury, you know how difficult it is to find a fix, and for those of you who are lucky enough to run pain-free, count your blessings. Shin splints are simply awful.

From years of experimentation, I gathered some how-to tips to treat and prevent shin splints.

1. Stretch: This one is critical. Most of the time shin splints occur from tight calves and inadequate warmups. Instead of jumping right into things, take the time to stretch 5-10 minutes before and after each run.
2. Ice: I know, everyone has probably heard this one a million and one times. However, it really does pay off when done properly. Take the time to ice for 20 minutes after each run and even on your day off. 
3. Proper Running Shoes: Make sure you have stable running shoes that are not too worn. As a Nike lover myself, I stick with the “Stable Ride” line of shoes However, most people recommend Asics. Also, switch out your shoes every 300 to 400 miles. Shoes of every type wear down and it causes stress on your legs. 
4. Physical Therapy: If your shin splints worsen over time, get a prescription for physical therapy. They can give stem and ultrasound treatments that are not available at home. In addition, therapists will stretch and massage out the stubborn parts of your shin.
5. Rest: This one is the hardest. Sometimes it is better to call it quits on your run when the pain worsens. Take a few days off. If you still need to get your cardio in, try jogging in a pool or biking as it requires much less pressure on your legs.

The worst part about shin splints is the lack of solutions available. Doctors can recommend treatments, but nothing is guaranteed to work. However, the best part about shin splints is the ability to play through them. Some doctors may advise taking some time off, but there is no reason to stop playing.

Pre-Workout Eating: Too Much or Too Little?

Whether you are trying to get back on the field or in the midst of preseason training, greasy fries, loaded calzones, and carb packed alcohol just won't cut it. I can assure you that it will leave you either throwing up during a session or on the couch bloated with zero motivation. So, yes unfortunately it is necessary to watch the quality of foods you put into your body especially during peak training months.

One of my biggest downfalls has always been either eating too much or too little before a workout. One day I will start my sprints and immediately cramp up, and the next day I will pass out during a fitness test (yes, it has happened multiple times). Therefore, I started to do some research on how to properly eat before a hard workout or a game. I came across a blog, Very Well: Sports Medicine, with all the info I could possibly need. Not only does it include nutritional facts, but also training tips, essential gear, and physical therapy recommendations. It is a one stop blog for every athlete’s concerns and interests.

With my under-eating/over-eating concerns, I found an entry, Sports Nutrition Advice: What and When to Eat Before Exercising with all my answers. It breaks down what you should be eating up to 4 hours before a major competition. It included the type of food (carbs, protein, and fats) you should consume and what you should avoid. These tips helped me calculate a perfect balance of food to leave me energized for any type of workout. Safe to say, it saved my life and my fitness tests.

With many trial and errors, I found the perfect regimen for my body. When I am waking up before the sun for the dreadful 6 am conditioning sessions, I go for a Kind Breakfast Bar. It is filling enough with lasting nutrients for tough morning fitness. Even though its painfully early and food does not even sound appetizing, I learned the hard way the importance of eating prior. When it comes to game day, I follow a structured schedule. Using what I read from the entry and understanding my body’s responses, I developed the following eating routine.

• 4 hours before: Vegetable omelet with a slice of whole grain toast OR grilled chicken, vegetables, and a small side of pasta

• 2 hours before: Banana and almond butter

• 30 minutes before: A Gatorade chew and lots of water

As this entry states, everyone is unique and digests food at different rates. Therefore, experiment with what works for you, but make sure to have something before a workout. Conditioning on an empty stomach will leave you dizzy and depleted. Finally, never forget the importance of water. Without it, all of the other nutrients will fail you. Fill up your water bottle and never let it leave your sight.

There's Still More to the Outcome

In one of my previous posts, More to the Outcome, I mentioned I came across a Wikipedia entry I felt needed some additional information. The entry explained the ankle reconstruction procedure known as the Broström procedure. After checking back on the post, I was pleased and slightly surprised to find my additional sentences had not been removed or altered. Wikipedia is definitely a strange site, and sometimes untrustworthy. Yet, in this case the ability to edit a page worked in my favor. My personal insight inserted in the outcome section remained untouched.

Surgeries obviously involve major changes inside your body. Therefore, patients expects positive outcomes and understand there possibility of varying side effects after such a procedure. In this case, after getting back on the field the Broström procedure may leave slight swelling and soreness. However, with a new sturdy and stable ankle allowing you to do the things you love, those are just a few minor bumps along the way.

After icing and time, the real outcome will simply be a brand new ankle with a scar for a memory.

Treating a Pulled Muscle

Injuries come in many shapes and sizes. Sports force your body to make quick, sudden movements. While your mind may allow you to do so, your body sometimes fails to follow through accordingly. Even with proper preparation and stretching, exhaustion and overuse may cause a glitch in the perfect machine that is your body.

A pulled muscle might be the most annoying and irritating glitch to occur. This type of injury can happen anytime and anywhere. It may be on the field, in the gym, on the court, or even at home. However, once it does, every little movement is made 5 times more difficult and 10 times more painful. While proper warm ups and stretching can help prevent pulling a muscle, like any other injury, it can never be completely avoided. Therefore, proper knowledge of this kind of treatment is necessary.

Last week, one of my entries focused on the use of cold therapy and in particular, Game Ready. I came across the Game Ready Blog discussing various injuries as well as the benefits of cold therapy during rehabilitation. One particular blog entry, What the Pros Recommend for Pulled Muscle Treatment, accurately lists recommendations for this specific type of injury.

People tend to pull the hamstring and groin more than other muscles. However, the treatment of any type of pulled muscle remains the same.

Compression, ice, and rest.

As much as we would like to shrug off a simple pulled muscle, the annoying pain will not go away without those treatments. By taking a few days off to elevate, ice, and compress the injured area, your body can recover back to its normal functioning state in no time.  

Getting "Game Ready"

Walk into any physical therapy office, training room, or sports rehabilitation center and you will find patients and athletes lined up on the table attached to a Game Ready. Get comfortable because post-injury this little machine will be attached to you possibly on a daily basis for at least 15 minutes at a time. Game Ready perfectly combines cold and compression therapy to reduce swelling, enhance natural healing, and reduce pain.

Game Ready was made for athletes with their individual concerns in mind.

 Whether you are a surgery patient in post-op rehab or an elite athlete with a sports injury, you want to get back into action as quickly as possible. For you, passively treating symptoms isn’t enough. You want to proactively accelerate your recovery.  

Whether its an ankle, elbow, shoulder, back, head, or wrist injury, Game Ready can supply a quick and easy solution. The device pumps cold water through a long, black tube into a removable wrap around the injured area. With different levels on compression and the ability to adjust the time, this miracle-working machine allows for aided, personalized care.

The Game Ready machine

However, the company supplies much more than just therapeutic benefits. In addition, on its website you’ll find another injury-prone athlete inspired blog. The Game Ready Blog offers tips on getting back in the game faster as well as specific injury guidelines. It may be a pulled groin, sprained ankle, or shoulder surgery. This blog has all the answers to your questions.

The next time you're hooked up to this machine waiting around trying to kill time, check out this blog. It is guaranteed to have details on not only your injury, but your concerns and questions as well.

Ice Baths: A Love/Hate Relationship

Upon immediate contact with the water, a shock is sent through your body. The next three minutes consist of piercing shivers as your body fights to stay warm. Then, it all goes numb. 

Ice baths may not be the most pleasant form of recovery after an even less pleasant work out. However, they definitely work some type of miracle, especially during those endless preseason days.

Trainers, coaches, and doctor have debated the significance of this cold therapy practice. Yet, if you ask the players, they all agree it works.

LeBron James

Members of 2015 U.S. Women's Soccer Team

Members of the Fordham Women's Soccer Team

From basketball to soccer and college athletics to professional, players are definitely not afraid of a little cold. After all, why not give it a shot if it makes tomorrow’s practice a little less painful.

How does this all work? In technical terms, ice baths constrict the blood vessels after entering the water. This helps to reduce swelling and tissue breakdown and it even aids in the movement of wastes like lactic acid. As your body starts to warm up after the bath, the increased blood flow causes heightened circulation in the body. In turn, it speeds up the healing process.

However, ice baths are not limited to only those with a pulled or strained muscle. Intense sprints and extended running alone can cause micro-tears in muscles. So, after the torturous fitness test or second round of practice, don't be afraid to turn on the water and pour in the ice. Just remember to keep it around 55 degrees and call it quits after about 10 minutes. As cold as you may be after, try not to take a hot shower until at least 30 minutes after. It allows for the natural healing process to take place.

When your legs feels heavy as bricks and stairs seem almost impossible, ice baths are your best friend. As much as you hate them, this type of cold therapy can always help and definitely never hurt.

Why Do We Keep Coming Back?

People sometimes ask, why do you keep coming back?

You’ve broken bones, pulled muscles, and even had to undergo surgery.

Is it even worth it in the long-run?

Will you regret it in 10 years when your injuries come back worse than before?

Why put yourself through the pain and frustration?

It’s just a sport, right?

Yes, it is just a sport. Of course there are days when practice drags on, the sun burns hot, every muscle in your body screams for a break, and we question why we do it to ourselves. We put our bodies through hell and back and we ask, what is it all really for?

We only question this for a brief moment until game day arrives. We wake up on the satisfying morning with a specific and all too familiar feeling of anxiousness. We count down the hours until the first pitch or the first whistle of kick-off. The anxiousness is not one stemming from nervousness. Rather, it is an anxiousness to obtain our reward and what we truly believe is ours.

We drag ourselves to 6 am practices, push through our depleting lifts, and train fitness all for this day. We do it for the moment of complete gratification and fulfillment in our sport, team, and most importantly, ourselves.

It may be a moment of making it to the championship game…

   

Or striking out the best hitter…

Regardless, in that exact instant, we are reminded of why we push past our injuries and undoubtedly get back on the field.

So, when people ask why do you keep coming back? The answer is simple. We do it for these moments.