Shin Splints Prevalent as the Fall Marathon Training Season is in Full Swing

Many popular marathons take place in the Fall, making late summer "crunch time" for marathon training.  Shin splints are the most common ailment below the knee to cause leg pain in runners.

While all runners are at risk for developing shin splints, some runners are more susceptible to injury than others. For example, females are twice as likely to develop a shin splint injury, as are runners who run on uneven surfaces such as gravel or sand. Intrinsic factors such as hormone levels, bone density, structural and biomechanical abnormalities, nutritional status and a previous running injury can also lead to shin splints.
The old adage of "too much too soon" is often the cause of these injuries. "The highest incidence of injury occurs two to four weeks after the start of training," says Dr. Rachoy. He offers several tips for how to avoid shin splints:
1. Follow a structured training program based on your performance and fitness level.
2. Run on a uniform, flat surface that is moderately firm.
3. Wear well fitting, supportive shoes and change them every 250-300 miles.
4. Follow an aggressive stretching program.
5. Wear custom foot orthotics (specially fitted shoe inserts that provide foot support) inside the shoe to address biomechanical and functional abnormalities, if medically necessary.
6. Consult with a medical doctor prior to training to address any intrinsic risk factors such as hormonal and nutritional factors.
Runners who do develop shin splints typically experience the pain at the beginning of the activity but will diminish during running, only to have the pain return after completion. Pain may progress to the point of impaired performance and the inability to sustain a regular run. Treatment may be as few as three to six weeks or as long as sixteen weeks depending on the severity of the injury. To minimize the severity of the injury, Dr. Rachoy recommends seeking treatment at the onset of shin splint pain. The cornerstone of shin splint treatment is rest. Other treatments such as ice, anti-inflammatory medication, immobilization and physical therapy are also sometimes recommended.