Shin splints, the catch-all term for lower leg pain that occurs below the knee, are the bane of life for many athletes, runners, tennis players and even dancers. But there are ways to prevent this common injury.
APR 07th 2017
5 Ways to Prevent Shin Splints
- Build up your training – Gradually increasing your training session allows your body to adjust to the new pressures and strains of a workout. Pushing yourself to far in the earlier stages is likely to cause you injury.
- Check your trainers – This is one of the simplest ways to prevent injury to your lower body. Whilst you may think that you’re fully equipped to run a marathon, it is always worth getting specialist help and advice when it comes to your trainers and how they fit.
- Low impact sessions – Incorporating a lower impact activity into your workout routine will allow your body to repair and restore itself from more intense sessions. Why not try your hand at swimming, or gentle cycling to relieve pressure?
- Stretch – Before AND after a workout, it is so important to warm up your body, as well as allowing it to safely cool down afterwards. By stretching, you are more likely to prevent muscle soreness, prevent further injury and increase your levels of performance.
- Different terrains – If you’re stuck in a running run and you can’t seem to venture far from what you’re used to, it is important to know that varying your running terrain is actually very beneficial. Getting off the roads and onto the grass or treadmill, for example, will give your body a break from the unforgiving pounding of the pavement, which in time can lead to injuries, such as shin splints.