Should I run when I have shin splints?
Unfortunately shin splints, which presents as pain along your shin bone at the front of your lower leg, is extremely common in runners. If you are suffering from this condition, should you keep on running or take a load off for a while?
Hollie Maskell is a physiotherapist (physiofithollie. com) and Meglio physiotherapy and fitness expert (mymeglio.com)
As shin splints is an overuse injury, runners are often under the impression they should cease their training altogether and stop running. However, this is not necessarily the case. In fact, running and gentle jogging can be used to supplement your recovery programme. The focus should be on a gradual loading programme to strengthen the surrounding muscles of the shin bone (tibia) but using running alongside this will only help aid recovery.