So apparently everybody's got shin splints and anterior tib raises are being hailed as the MTSS lord and savior?

At least this is what I've been told.

Now before you jump ship: I'm NOT saying anterior tib raises are "bad" or "don't work". But I'm not going to tell you that ONE exercise will fix your shin splints in 5 business days and you'll run your marathon in 10 weeks, pain free.

Dude. If I could promise that...

So this week, I've done a deep dive back into Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome, aka shin splints. (I think the last time I really did this was in 2020 with Elizabeth from the Running Explained Podcast. RIP.)

This is partially in thanks to a podcast I did with Daren at @dlakescreates.

(2 second bio: We've known each other for 2 years now. He's a reputable running coach with a banger podcast, who not only genuinely cares about his runners and audience, but cares about putting out quality information that's not just click or rage bate.)

And something he mentioned was, "We gotta talk about these anterior tib raises".

And I realized, I have NEVER given anterior tib raises to any runner in the clinic or any runner I've coached here online. My mind was kind of blown.

So I went into the running research genuinely curious, because what I missed something? What if I held my runners' back? What if I made a major mistake during rehab?

Folks. I searched high and low. I could NOT find any recent research in the past 5 years that concretely stated anterior tib raises cure shin splints.

But I found a WHOLE LIST of other stuff that DOES work.

And...a very surprising list of stuff that DOES NOT WORK. (aka, the running research literally says foam rolling your shins does not work. There's other juicy stuff in there, too).

So with shin splints being a popular injury at the moment, I thought I've give you all a very readable, but science-backed update on how to fix your shin splints.

Spoiler: this sucker takes time. consistency. and a lot of patience.

Because at the heart of this:

I don't want you falling for content, videos, or programs that claim they have THE solution. Maybe a few exercises help. Maybe a certain massage technique you found on YouTube or TikTok helps decrease pain. GREAT! Use those!

But realize, it's a much bigger, more nuanced conversation than a 30 sec video can relay.

So if you're ready to jump into that and some exercise suggestions I do have (to give you a start in case you have shin splint niggles), check it all out below and...

Dare to Train Differently,

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

P.S. When the podcast episodes with Daren are published, I plan on throwing them into the blog post so everything is one, easy to access place.

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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