Factors That May Increase Your Risk Of Developing Shin Splints
If you lead an active lifestyle, you may encounter shin splints at some point in your life. This issue causes pain in your shins, especially after you've been active. For some people, pain from this condition can be minor and chronic; for others, the discomfort can be so pronounced that they're unable to lead the type of active lifestyle that they desire. If you notice the symptoms of shin splints coming on, taking a break from your physical endeavors can often be enough to reduce the symptoms. Should this approach not work, it's a good idea to schedule an appointment with a local physical therapist, who can assess the injury, treat it, and provide you with some suggestions on how to keep shin splints from returning. Here are some factors that may increase your risk of this condition.
Not Allowing Time For Rest
People who are chronically active can often develop shin splints because this part of their body doesn't get time to rest between workouts. For example, if you were to run for an hour three times a week but take the other days of the week off, shin splints may never develop. However, if you're dedicated enough to your running that you run for an hour every day of the week, it's possible that you'll develop shin splints because you're overusing your legs.
Increasing Your Intensity
A sharp increase in the intensity at which you're active can also elevate your risk of developing shin splints. For example, you may be a young athlete who is working out during the off-season. As the season approaches, you might begin to ramp up the intensity of your workouts — and you could be left nursing shin splints as a result. If you customarily jog at five miles per hour but suddenly decide that you want to maintain a pace of eight miles per hour, this intensity increase can stress your lower body to the point that shin splints occur.
Changing Your Footwear
If you've recently changed the footwear that you use for your preferred athletic endeavor and have noticed an emergence of pain that is consistent with shin splints, the shoes could be the root cause. Certain types of footwear alter your mechanics, whether you're jogging, playing soccer, or even walking briskly. When you buy new footwear, it's generally a good idea to break them in slowly rather than begin wearing them exclusively, given the risk of shin splints.
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