How To Stretch Shins

If you're doing any type of exercise involving the lower body, such as running or playing tennis, you'd better know how to stretch shins. Stretching shins prior to exercise is every bit as necessary as performing the exercise itself. If you don't learn how to stretch shins properly, you may suffer a very painful case of shin splints after your exercise.

To perform a simple standing exercise to stretch shins, you will need:

• A good pair of athletic shoes
• A wall

1. Place one hand on the wall to steady yourself for this shin stretching exercise.
2. Put the leg you're going to stretch behind your other leg. The front leg (the one not being stretched) should be facing forward. The back leg should be in the same alignment; the toes of your back leg should be facing in the same direction as the front leg with the toes pointed forward.
3. To start your stretching exercise, gently, and slowly, lean forward while keeping your feet planted on the floor. You should feel a gentle stretch in your shin of the back leg.
4. For a more defined and stronger stretch, bend the knees of both legs. Lean farther forward to get a good shin stretch.
5. Hold the position for at least fifteen seconds. Thirty seconds will give you more of a stretch and is always a good idea.
6. Repeat this shin stretch with the other leg.
7. Repeat two or three times with each leg to get the most thorough shin stretch. And remember, perform this stretch again after you've finished exercising.