NS Athletic Dept. Need help with upper shinsplints

shoes with cusion or asprin

Here's for normal shin splints, maybe some of this can help
Shin Splints Treatment

Treatment for shin splints is a simple as reducing pain and inflammation, identifying training and biomechancial problems which may have helped cause the injury initially, restoring muscles to their original condition and gradually returning to training.

What can the athlete do about shin splints?

• Rest to allow the injury to heal.
• Apply ice or cold therapy in the early stages, particularly when it is very painful. Cold therapy reduces pain and inflammation.
• Stretch the muscles of the lower leg. In particular the tibialis posterior is associated with shin splints.
• Wear shock absorbing insoles in shoes. This helps reduce the shock on the lower leg.
• Maintain fitness with other non weight bearing exercises such as swimming, cycling or running in water.
• Apply heat and use a heat retainer or shin and calf support after the initial acute stage and particularly before training. This can provide support and compression to the lower leg helping to reduce the strain on the muscles. It will also retain the natural heat which causes blood vessels to dilate and increases the flow of blood to the tissues.
• Visit a sports injury clinic for treatment and rehabilitation.

What can a sports injury clinic or doctor do?

• Prescribe anti-inflammatory medication e.g. ibuprofen. (Always consult a doctor before taking medication).
• Tape the ankle for support. - A taping worn all day will allow the shin to rest properly by taking the pressure off the muscle attachments.
• Perform gait analysis to determine if you overpronate or oversupinate
• Use sports massage techniques on the posterior deep muscle compartment but avoid the inflamed periostium.
• Operate

Important

• Anti inflammatory drugs along with rest and ice can help reduce inflammation, particularly in the early stages. However if the underlying causes such as tight muscles are not treated through stretching and sports massage techniques then the likelyhood of the injury returning is higher.

Which products can help with treatment of shin splints?

Some products which can help with treatment and prevention of shin splints are outlined below. Please consult your therapist before using any products as they may not be compatible with your particular therapists approach to treatment.

Shock absorbing insoles

Shock absorbing insoles can help reduce the shock and impact transmitted through the foot to the lower leg, particularly when running on hard surfaces for long periods of time. Buy Insoles (UK), Insoles(USA)

Orthotic insoles

Orthotic insoles are firm insoles designed to correct biomechanical dysfunction such as over pronation. They will usually have strong arch support. Off the shelf orthotic insoles are available and suitable for many, although for the perfect fit a Podiatrist will make them specifically for your feet.

Shin and calf supports

Shin and calf supports can provide compression and support for the lower leg and retain the bodies natural heat. Buy calf supports (UK), calf supports (USA)

Slant boards

A slant board is a simple but effectrive device which helps with accurate and progressive stretching of the calf muscles. Buy slant board (UK)

Cold Therapy

There are a range of cold therapy products available which make applying ice or cold therapy simple and convenient. Buy cold therapy(UK), cold therapy (USA)

Sports Strapping Tape

Zinc oxide sports tape is excellent for applying a simple taping technique. Buy sports tape (UK), sports tape (USA).

How old are you? Is there a bump there where if you push on the bump it hurts like crazy?

If you are still growing and there is a bump there you might have osgood schlatters. It's basically an inflammation of the growth plate right where you are describing. It's really common in teens and usually goes away by itself. Summary below

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/osgood-schlatter-disease/DS00392


It's unlikely you have "shin splints" these normally occur much lower in you shin.

There also is a possibility you could have tweaked your patellar ligament (the one that comes down from your kneecap) because it attaches to the same area you are describing. This is less likely than osgood schlatters however.

Your best game plan right now is to hit up RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) in that order. Take about a half hour between icing sessions. Also take an anti-inflammatory. That should help quite a bit.

Good luck!

In addition to icing try stretching out your quads. I sometimes get the same type of pain because my quads are too tight so they pull on my knee.

i had that for 2 years and it suuuucked so bad. i had to quit racing for two years.

osgood schlatters

wrong. that's like a growth protrusion and considered a disease. I have never had this prior to wearing shoes the sucked the other night (like running on bricks)

It sounds more like patella tendonitis more than anything with a possible strain of the tendon. as stated before Rest, ice, compression.  you could also look into the patella straps that are on the market, they take the stress off the tendon.  

but for now, Heat and stretch before activity, and ice down afterwards and see how it goes.


(-Coming from a Senior Athletic Training Student.)