At first, I 100% froze.

They teach us a lot in PT school, but not E V E R Y T H I N G. (Or maybe they did cover shin splints and I missed that lecture?)

I was working at my dream-clinic at the time and this young man with shin splints was assigned to me.

And for some PT's, shin splints can be a nightmare to treat. For me: my mind just went blank.

(Or really, it was the *spongebob everything is on fire meme*)

But I had one last trick that didn't go down in the burning flames of my initial-evaluation-anxiety. I had a treatment-system that I still use today to get me started.

And every time I use it, it's absolutely incredible what I learn. Over time, with practice, and more runners with shin splints, I started to get the hang of things.

Shin splints became less nebulous and mysterious and more strategic and objective.

I read more research papers on MTSS (medial tibial stress syndrome) and noticed inconsistencies and gaps in the literature, ultimately walking away with more questions than answers, but at least a more solid knowledge-foundation.

But it made me realize, just how absolutely BAMBOOZLING is it to be a runner without a Doctorate degree (and crippling student debt) to understand *exactly* what's happening with your body when you feel the first deep, dull ache of shin splints.

Because let me give you a little extra information that you wont find in the blog post:

The internet will tell you to do...

• 50 single leg calf raises
• cut back on your mileage
• take 1-3 rest days
• wear compression socks,
• ice
• even use your massage gun on your shins.

Those tips will only get you so far and I've never had a runner who said doing all those things "fixed them".

The facts are: whether compressions socks will help you is a 50/50 shot and for the love of the running gods, please don't massage gun your shin BONE

(you can massage gun your anterior tib, but GENTLY).

But you know what does help?

A brand-NEW, 5 exercise MEGA circuit I've put together to help fix and prevent shin splints based on new research, targeting the exact muscles that are weak in runners with MTSS.

I've also stashed in there:

• how shin splints even happen (because it's not "just running too much")
• what are all the different names for shin splints that way you're not ambushed or confused at the doctor's
• and 8 Self- Assessment questions so you can help determine on your own whether you're potentially fighting shin splints or just fatigue (because avoiding panic is nice)

And here's a little extra something I've found just through clinical practice that I didn't include in the blog post: Hamstring strength.

I know, it sounds crazy, like how can hamstring strength contribute to MTSS prevention? Well, in most of my shin splint-runners, we eventually find weak hamstrings.

But this theory relies on what we call "functional anatomy" which is a different way of understanding which muscle groups create or assist a certain motion or movement.

• In the functional anatomy-world, the hamstring is obviously responsible for bending your knee, but it's also responsible for slowing down and the controlling the motion of straightening your knee.
• And as your knee straightens during your running stride, your toes come towards your nose, placing your ankle in dorsiflexion, which is typically performed by your anterior tib.
• So technically, your hamstring is "assisting" ankle dorsiflexion.
• And if that anterior tib fatigues quickly, extra may fall to the hamstring. I know it's a stretch...but that's for my nerdy runners out there.

If you've made it this far into the email, you the real MVP.

and you're the best.

Let's make sure shin splints never slow you down.

Dare to Train Differently,

Marie Whitt, PT, DPT //@dr.whitt.fit

P.S. This entire blog and week of content was inspired by a runner who emailed me asking for blog on shin splints. So if you've got requests, it's your turn to send an email too ;)

Looking for MORE ways to work together?

• ​RUNNING RESCUE CALL: Save your run and your race. Work directly with me 1-on-1 at the first sign of an ache, niggle, or repeat running injury. We'll deep dive into the why behind your injury and create a personalized exercise program that gets you out of pain, keeps you running, and helps prepare you for race day!
• Grab my NEWEST FREE Strength resources for runners: The Calf & Achilles Cure Toolkit, made for marathoners sidelined by stiff, painful achilles and tight, injury-prone calves who want to protect their training cycle and show up to the starting line strong, pain-free, and ready to race.
• ​STRONGER FEET WORKSHOP: Losing the battle to plantar fasciitis, posterior tib pain, or reoccurring Achilles tendonitis? Not with this workshop ;)

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