Tender shin bones? (Read 64 times)

For whatever reason, this season my shin bone seems to be ultra tender after runs.  During runs there is no particular feeling.  However, afterwards the bone, midway up my shin, is very tender to the touch.  Neither the top third, nor bottom third are tender.  While both legs experience this, my right seems more tender.

I've had shin-splints in the past, and this is different.  The discomfort is not on the fascia to the side of the bone.  It's actually the bone itself (which of course, doesn't make a lot of sense, since "bones" can't really be tender . . . can they?).

The discomfort is mostly ignorable, but still makes me wonder.  Occasionally, I've applied ice, which certainly makes it feel better.

Anyone have similar experience?  Anyone know what's up?

first thing that comes to mind is a stress fracture...probably worth it to get it checked out

If cause is overtraining....you cut back. But, your tissues need to be stronger. Hip glute work affect evrything below. Weakness there can shift pelvis which affects knees, shin, foot strike etc. It all starts in hips. Standing and one leg strength work is the ticket. I would also add calf work standing and standing with knees slightly bent. Dorsiflexion exercise are key as well using bands and cables to support shin muscles. You may need a week off running to regroup and then give yourself a month of easier milleage while strengthening. I would rather you take a 15 min walk than ice which will delay the recovery process. Your discomfort is from congestion at injury site irritating nerves. . Movement will clear the congestion.

I think some folks are just genetically screwed. I've been a competitive adult athlete for 40 years, and have had tender shins for 40 years. Even growing up, playing sports, I had terrible shin splints. At 24 it progressed into a stress fracture, and I stopped running, and competed as a cyclist for 2 years. My shin healed, but never stopped being tender. Even during periods I was strong and in the best shape of my life, with no injuries... if I bumped my shins into something, or dropped a wrench on them... I would go through the roof. After marathons and ultras, my shins are hyper tender for weeks, and often keep me awake at night. I've tried every remedy, every stretch, every strength move, every massage technique, every form of rollers, supplements, shoes, insoles, different drops, stairs, gadgets, whatever, etc, etc. I'm going to be 60 later this year, and my shins are still tender, I still get shin splints, and after hard efforts and races, they are still terribly tender. They still ache at night, even after time off. In fact I can still feel the area of the stress fracture, 36 years later, and use it's sensitivity as a indicator that I'm pushing too hard. I'm tall, lean, and have bowed legs. I've long since given up finding a cure, and have accepted the fact that if I'm going to be active, my shins are going to be tender.

I'd start here to understand the biology of what you're up against.

Shin splint issues are one of too much forward lean in posture.

https://www.runningahead.com/forums/topic/0f3ec1d851f945c986d24b15a7c4355e/0?pgctx=0EezD0E6jggYqoWzXxMEhU47W3

Actually you prove my point. I stated that he's leaning too far forward (hence the overpronation) and he needed to bring his bodyweight backwards to reduce the pain. You told him rather than lean backwards, to lift the heel with a mid or forefoot landing. Your suggestion demands the alteration to bring the heel off the ground to achieve the same angle reduction at the ankle as I stated in goal.

One could say, same difference...

However, yes your suggestion does work to alleviate the pain. The question for the OP is if his goal is to run with greater comfort or higher speed?

Your answer is based upon improving comfort at the sacrifice of speed. A midfoot or forefoot landing reduces stride length. So your energy cost per mile skyrockets due to the increase of steps per mile your suggestion requires as a result and the muscle firing increase that demands. Science says the 180 step per minute crap your reply was based upon doesn't hold up under clinical scrutiny.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16195026

To run as economically as one can, requires utilization of a heel strike landing. Midfoot and forefoot landing require six firings of the calf muscle in forward locomotion per gait cycle. A heel strike runner only has two firing of one's calf muscle per gait cycle. Which would you choose?

Does a track runner need their heels on the ground to reach top speed? No, of course not. But speed oriented mechanics doesn't work well with running distance events with maximum economy as one's goal.