'Shin splints' is a very generic term for pain in the shins. However, it is very often caused by impact and so extra cushioning in shoes can greatly reduce the risk. If you already have decent shoes and it comes on then it is probably time to replace the shoes that once were good for you. Shin pain can sometimes also be as a result of over pronation so when buyin new shoes it is well worth having a gait analysis.

Hi I am a physio and I know that shin pain is a real pain in the arse! Outside of gait and biomechanical analysis, I would suggest lots of ice, deep tissue massage (be really mean) calf stretching and also trying tape - two long strips pulled tight down the length of the front of the shin and then anchored with a piece around the ankle and at the top of the shin.  Hope this might help any of you sufferers!physiointhecity.co.uk

thanks for the advice, my shoes were bought after i had my gait analysed, after some prodding i have now realised the pain /discomfort is from the inside of my lower leg, under the calf muscle and down to the ankle  and i would describe the soreness as being more  to the side of the shin and its connective tissue there is no muscle - not the shin itself

 Hi , this is my first post so please be gentle..lol ... i have been running for a few months now and i am up to 5 miles (2 x 4m, plus 1 x 5m plus the occational game of golf/ week), but i have a similar pain associated with my mid shin, during my most recent run - monday i felt pain in my mid shin - sort of chronic pain. after i finished my run and the subsequent days. on applying pressure to the area (either side , almost to the rear of the bone) the area felt like it was sore and lightly bruised.I hit the ground quite hard,so i changed my running shoes from nike citius (reccommended by a running shop) and then  recently had my gait analysed and i am now using a pair of asics GT2140, these are the first pair of "proper " running shoes i have had, but the shin pain seems to flare-up  every six weeks as i have expirienced this pain before. My calves are pretty big - compared to my legs and maybe that is a factor?The pain affected my run time , but after 3 days of rest i feel fine and i am ready  to run again, the pain concerns me  but do not want to reduce my running - as i am really starting to enjoy it.  I have considered compression clothing, maybe my large calves are being jarred by my running style? would compression  clothing help me?

I'm quite glad to stumble across this thread - I have been suffering from MTSS (shin splints but specifically in the inside of my shin, not much above my ankle bone) for the last 3+ months. I couldn't figure out what caused it as I hadn't really changed anything. I switched my shoes (after getting my gait analysed again) from asics 1130 to asics 2140, but this didn't really help. Months of physio/massage/acupuncture didn’t help either, but then I went for a hot stone massage and he discovered that a muscle in my back had gone into spasm and the end result was it pulled my right leg out by 1/2 inch. He said he thought this was the cause of my shin splint, worked on it, and since then (just over a week) I've ran twice (16k in total) and my shin is 95% better. I'm hoping that it is now on the mend - I'm way behind training for my first half marathon in March and want to start building up my running again. Does anyone have any thoughts on how to reduce calf pain - my Soleus muscle is really sore/tight after running, no matter how good my warm up and how much stretching I do. Interestingly, I was talking to my local running shop to see if a more cushioned shoe would help with the pain - they said it wouldn't but suggested compression socks - running in the "race" versions and using the recovery ones afterwards. Has anyone tried this for shin/calf pain?

Hiya...been reading this one with interest!  I have self diagnosed shin splints.......mid shin pain after running, a small lump which is tender to touch and will remain as long as I continue to run.  Ice eases the pain and have been massaging.  Decided not to run to see if the pain went........and having not run for 8 days now (ready to kill anyone within range) my leg feels absolutely fine, no pain whatsoever!!!  I have been doing spin classes to maintain fitness.  I was planning a test run today to see how it felt but the snow put paid to that one.  So, another couple of days rest and then I shall run but thinking of booking in with a physio next week.   Hoping that I can get back with running pronto though as I am booked in for the Brighton HM in February and the training plan has been put aside.

UPDATE - My shin splints haven't returned!  So no need to treat them now.Although recently, with increasing my mileage, my ankles have started to ache a bit.  Nothing painful, as it wears off after a couple of miles anyway.This thread has become very interesting.  Good advise too.

Hi All, I have been running on and off (due to various niggling injuries) for about two and a half years. I normally run about 20 miles per week and have ran two half marathons.Around about September last year I developed pain in my right shin, I have now found out that this is caused by shin splints as I over pronate, particularly on my right foot. I have bought new shoes, but to no avail so I had a course of physio and bought some orthotic soles from them. The pain and swelling seemed to dissapear pretty quickly, much to the shock of the physio!  I then had a month off and have today been for a two miler but after the first half a mile the pain reoccurred. Can anyone help please before I give up!!ThanksAidy

I know this has been covered many times before but....shin splints.I've been running for many years and have even completed a couple of marathons. However, I have always suffered with pain on the inside of my shin bones about halfway up. This has recently resurfaced and I'm keen to get to the bottom of it. I have previously seen a podiatrist and now use custom made orthotics which haven't cured it. I have also seen physiotherapists to no avail. At the moment I'm getting by on a combination of ibuprofen and self massage. I over-pronate and am a fairly heavy heel-striker. i haven't suddenly increased my mileage either.So, forumistas....what is the best place to start to get rid of the pain? Is it technique? Should I try to adopt a more mid-foot strike? Or should I get a motion-control shoe such as the Brooks Beast (I currently use a more stabilty shoe of Asics 1130)? From what I can gather using the latter might prevent the former?Aaaaagh 

UPDATE.      Horray! my shin pain has gone completely..... (For now!??!).No fancy Sports Therapist involved.I cut down my running quite alot, which I think is the main answer.  When I did run, I wore my calf support which helped.  Doing the massage myself, deeply with my thumbs on my shin area helped aswell.  Also, I did more cross-training.  Sooo pleased I didn't get a VLM place this year, those extra training miles is not what I need.New year, new training plan, which includes more cross-training.  Got a HM in March, I expected PB, so I'll have to build up the miles again slowly.  Still wearing my old trainers which will be retired very, very soon.  I hope to keep the problem down, at the first sign of ache, I'll wear my calf support or just cut down.  Doing loads and loads of miles isn't necessary.I'll update again in March maybe, if i remember.