[saggy8]

I think I might have shin splints because I get a lot of pain on the side of my shin when playing football. The pain disappears after playing for a while, but hurts again a few hours after playing. The pain is not really bad or anything just quite a discomfort.

Do I have to stop playing football for a while? I really will struggle not playing football for longer than a week.

[rizisap]

Shin splints are caused by (iirc) too much stress on the connective tissue (ie, muscles and ligaments). Essentially, your muscles can handle the load you're exerting on them, but your connective tissue cant. Connective tissue recoveres in a similar way to muscle, but takes longer. If they're stressed repeaptedly (ie, as in football) the connective tissue can start to recover incorrectly. As a result, the next time its stressed, more damage is done.

Theres good news and bad news. The good news is that it doesnt take massive amounts of time for your connective tissue to repair itself fully completely (6 weeks should do it). After this, take it easy (1 game every 3 days to start) and build up slowly.

The bad news, you MUST let it recover. Otherwise, the damage gets worse and worse, and you can end up with a stress fracture, which will keep you out for months (and from which you might not recover 100%)

[Pitt1988]

What the above guy said. I used to get them when I was about 16 or so, so I guess it was partly down to the fact I was still growing. I just rested for a while.

[saggy8]

(Original post by rizisap)
Shin splints are caused by (iirc) too much stress on the connective tissue (ie, muscles and ligaments). Essentially, your muscles can handle the load you're exerting on them, but your connective tissue cant. Connective tissue recoveres in a similar way to muscle, but takes longer. If they're stressed repeaptedly (ie, as in football) the connective tissue can start to recover incorrectly. As a result, the next time its stressed, more damage is done.

Theres good news and bad news. The good news is that it doesnt take massive amounts of time for your connective tissue to repair itself fully completely (6 weeks should do it). After this, take it easy (1 game every 3 days to start) and build up slowly.

The bad news, you MUST let it recover. Otherwise, the damage gets worse and worse, and you can end up with a stress fracture, which will keep you out for months (and from which you might not recover 100%)

Thanks for the advice, i'll try to take a few weeks off

[almasy]

Learn to run properly... you run with bad form you'll pay for it with injuries.

[Tedaus]

I have a pain on the inside of my shin that I think might be shin splints. It only hurts when I run, but I've stopped running for like 3 weeks and if I press into where it hurt, it still hurts. Should I rest longer or just run through the pain?

[rizisap]

Tedaus, Rest longer. If you can afford, sports massages may help too. Tendons and ligaments take a much longer time to recover then muscle, and 3 weeks isnt that long. Consider footballers - a muscle tear and they're out for a few months. A ligament injury, and theyre out for the season. Dont risk it, mate.

[Tedaus]

(Original post by rizisap)
Tedaus, Rest longer. If you can afford, sports massages may help too. Tendons and ligaments take a much longer time to recover then muscle, and 3 weeks isnt that long. Consider footballers - a muscle tear and they're out for a few months. A ligament injury, and theyre out for the season. Dont risk it, mate.

Thanks. I have been doing HIIT as well after never really running, so maybe it was a bit intense. I'll give it a couple more weeks then go for it again, maybe at a slightly slower speed.