Shin splint stretches

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Shin Splint Stretches

This lens is about one thing only: Shin splints and the best shin splint stretching exercises and activities to reduce your pain and prevent it coming back ever again. So if you can't walk far from shin pain read on!

Shin splints are a painful and frustrating injury, normally they affect runners and sports-people in running games but they can affect walkers too. I know this very well, I was regularly walking 2-3 miles to and from work daily and liked to walk fast. On many occasions, especially when a bit late and pushing a bit too hard I'd get the shin splints so bad that I had to stop for several minutes and then resume but very slow. Not good. And they also affected my Saturday football games and step aerobic sessions, I was fit, had the energy to go at it hard but was literally handicapped by the damned shin splints.

Something had to be done! I got researching

I discovered that you can treat and prevent them through a number of common sense measures which this lens touches on plus some great example shin splint stretches you can try out that will help you a lot.

For a complete shin splints cure I heartily recommend The Stretching Institute, I got free stretching email course and later the Stretching DVD and InstantStretch software (amazing) and using the stretches form there plus the other common sense preventative measures you'll find in this detailed FREE shin splint stretches article have been shin splints free ever since :)

What Are Shin Splints and how can Shin Splint Stretches help?

The most common type of shin splints, often experienced by speed walkers, beginner runners and runners resuming training after a long lay off is where the muscle that attaches the bone to to the front of the lower leg tears. The result is sharp pain in the lower leg, almost feeling as if it's the shin bone itself in pain! I know I've had them!

Specifically the pain is a result of fatigue & trauma to the muscle tendons where they attach the tibia. In attempting to keep the foot, ankle and lower leg stable they exert too great a force on the tibia which can result in the tendons being partially torn from the bone.

Treatment and Shin Splint Stretches
It's possible to continue training with a mild cases of shin splints but rest may be needed in bad cases.

For more in depth information on the other aspects of shin splints or for stretches for other body areas and sports specific stretches and flexibility workouts see this free shin splint stretches resource

Briefly though:


  • Take Anti inflammatory like IB Propfin one hour before training.
  • Just before starting heat the area using a hot towels or heat pack.
  • Wear shoes suitable for your feet.
  • Train on soft and even surfaces to reduce "pounding" and foot motion "rocking"
  • Ice treatment post practice.
  • Friction massage using the thumbs

Shin Splint Stretches and Prevention

Get Good Shoes!

Before you get into Shin Splint Stretches you need to have the right shoes, it's not just about cost, indeed it is much more to do with suitability for your feet.

The best advice I can give here is rather than home diagnose go to a foot/sports specialist and get their advice. The choice relates mostly to your "pronation". Specialist sports shops may also be able to help.

Shin Splint Stretches and Warming up and cooling down

Before any activity be sure to thoroughly warm up all the muscles and tendons that will be used during your sport or activity.

Click here for a detailed how, why and when to perform your warm up guide

Shin Splint Stretching Exercise Examples for warm up and down

Flexible muscles are essential to prevent shin splints. When your muscles and tendons are supple they can move and perform without being over stretched or stressed.


  1. In a kneeling position, point your toes out behind and gently sit back on your heels pressing the tops of the feet towards the ground.

  2. Standing arm length from a wall, put your hands on the wall while keeping your feet and knees straight, then lean forward as far as possible.

  3. Standing with your feet flat, bend your knees forward as far as possible keeping your heels on the floor.


I found the The Stretching Handbook and DVD invaluable in getting rid of my shin splints. The handbook is a easy, quick reference guide of 135 clear photographs of every possible stretching exercise, for every major muscle group in your body, get a copy of You'll also learn the benefits of flexibility; the rules for safe stretching; and how to stretch properly. Click The Stretching Handbook and DVD and learn more (there is also a free stretching course by email you can sign up for)

Shin Splint Stretching Prevention Strengthening Exercises

Shin splint stetchesBecause prevention is better than a cure!


  1. Put feet flat on the ground and have a partner hold them down. Partner applies resistance to your toes and you lift them up against the pressure.

  2. Sitting with your left ankle on right knee, apply pressure to inside of your foot (near big toe) with hand, then and turn your foot up and in, using the leg muscles.

  3. In the same position as above, put pressure to the outside of the foot (near little toe) with your hand, and turn foot down and out using the leg muscles.

  4. In the same position as above, put pressure to the top of foot (near toes) with your hand, and lift the foot using leg muscles.

  5. Repeat these with the right ankle on the left knee.

  6. Sit on a table or chair attach a weight (a bucket filled with stones or sand works well) around the foot. Without bending your knee move your foot up and down from the ankle - Start light and work up.

  7. Attach one end of a stretching exercise elastic band to the leg of a table or sofa and loop it around the end of the foot. Move your foot up and down and side to side against the bands resistance. Try to draw the letters of the alphabet in the air with your big toe.

  8. Stand erect and raise up and down onto your toes several times. You can make it harder by doing it while standing on a step and allowing your calves to stretch over the edge of the step.

  9. While sitting lower and raise your feet with the heels on the ground as high and quickly as possible for 60 seconds. This is a great one to do during work days while sitting at your desk.

Shin Splint Stretching Prevention Strengthening Activities


  1. Walking down steep hills.

  2. Walking on your toes.

  3. Walking on your heels.

  4. Walking with your feet turned inward and outward.

  5. With your socks off, gather up a towel that is flat on the floor, using only your toes.

  6. Pick up marbles using your toes.

Shin splint stretches video

Here's a useful shin splint stretching video using a stretch band
powered by Youtube

Shin Splint Stretching Exercise Band

Shin splint stetches exercise bandSimple stretching tool will take you to a whole new level of flexibility. It's just like having your own personal stretching assistant. In fact it's better than using a partner because you have total control over every aspect of your flexibility training. Comes with an instructional lift-out poster detailing 12 common StretchBand stretches, perfect for shin splint stretches as shown in the video. Click here for a more detailed review of StretchBand.

Shin Splint Stretching Summary

Ffree stretching guide and newsletterSo good news! There is no reason at all to let shin splints beat you. You can treat and prevent them in almost all cases.

For more information on Shin Splint Stretching and stretching and flexibility for all types of flexibility, morning warm ups, sports specific and recovery from injury stretching see the Stretching Institute site where you can get their famous stretching DVD guide, wall charts, software and free stretching guide

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