How To Fix Shin Splints

Learn how to fix shin splints so that you can quickly return to your normal daily routine and do not have to worry about the pain in your shins. Shin splints usually come from excessive running or walking on unforgiving surfaces such as pavement. They can be quite painful, and if they are not treated quickly then they can possibly lead to stress fractures in your shins. Stress fractures are literally small fractures in the bone, and they are much more painful even than shin splints, so take care to treat the shin splints quickly and remove them.

1. To fix shin splints, you should take it easy. If you like to exercise and do things such as power walking or running then you need to rest for a while. Take a week off and do not run or walk for a long time, and do not run very hard when you do come back. The less you run and exercise, the quicker the shin splints will heal.
2. Walk, jog, and run on softer surfaces such as a track for track and field or the grass to fix shin splints. Either one will provide much more cushion when compared to concrete. You can walk on the side of the sidewalk on the grass to let them heal, or you can just jog on the track. This may be boring compared to cross-country runs, but it is much better than being in pain.
3. Ice you shin splints every day for fifteen to twenty minutes. The best way to do this is to fill up small Styrofoam cups with water and let them freeze in the freezer. Take one out when you want to ice and tear away enough Styrofoam until the ice is barely sticking over the edge of the cup. Rub this ice up and down your shin where the shin splints are. You can also fill a small plastic baggy with ice and use it to do the same thing as well, although this is not quite as effective.
4. See a doctor and tell him what is wrong. He may be able to prescribe some pain medicine and give you more detailed advice on how to fix shin splints. Be specific and let him know how much it hurts, because it could also be a stress fracture if you have not treated it quickly enough. In this case, you may need to wear a small leg brace and even use crutches for a little while if the fracture is severe enough.