stress fractures?

artemis_ar

I'm 17 years old and started competitively running 3 years ago without injuries. Recently I have become more prone to shin splints... which lead to my first stress fracture. I stopped running for a month and when I came back into it, the splints started back up and now I'm in the same situation. I was just wondering what I could do. I ice 20 min. before/after every run, take vitamins, and stretch well. I also have very cushioned shoes with less than 50 miles on them. Should I look into inserts to relieve even more of the pressure, or what else can I do?

Answer
Not running for 1 month may not have been long enough to heal your fractures.
You can do non impact conditioning like biking or running in deep water until your fractures are completely healed.
The reason you are now getting shin splints and did not for the first 3 years is difficult to determine since it sounds like you are doing the correct things.
Good shoes, massage, ice, and stretching should help the pain, and if not then you need to see a sports doctor.

running shoe help?

michael c

i bought a pair of nike running shoes two weeks ago and have run 3 miles almost every day like i usually do. i have some serious pain in my lower legs that i didnt have b4 getting them. it feels like there is absolutely no support with these new shoes.

what is a really good running shoe that will be better for my legs?

keep in mind, i run 3 miles almost everyday.

Answer
Link, under armour does not make running shoes... and nike is definitely not the best running shoe brand

I have been running in nikes forever, but recently i got very badly injured (a stress fracture that sidelined me for 5 months)... I recently went to a running shoe store and was fitted into a pair of Adidas, and I love them, and I feel safe running in them.

Go to a real running store, not dunhams or sportmart or dick's sporting goods... those are sporting goods stores not running stores. and yes there is a difference. running store employees are runners who actually know about the sport and which shoes produce the most successful, injury free runners

asics is very popular, i personally hate them, but basically everyone on my high school team wears them. i like adidas... and mizunos and brooks are also good brands to look into.


ugh sorry i just read more posts, and there is so much misinformation it is making me sick:

the nike frees are not meant for everyday running. their purpose is to strengthen your feet and are only meant to be worn a few times a week, and certainly not for long runs

and no running shoe, not even asics, can withstand 15,000 miles of running without sacrificing something. i am sure there are people who do this just for the thrill or bragging rights of running on the same pair of shoes for 15,000 miles

and do not go to the goodfeet store to get supports to use in your running shoes. those supports were not made for serious athletes. if you really need inserts, then go to a physical therapist. most physical therapy offices partner with a company that makes custom orthodics that are made for athletes. goodfeet supports are stiff and were not made for using during intense endurance activities

and the most expensive shoes are not always the best. for example: the nike air max 360's are in my opinion the worst running shoes ever, they are heavy and the cushioning isn't even that great, and there is no support at all whatsoever... sounds like a cheap shoe? they cost $170

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Do I have shin splints or a stress factor?

best running shoes after stress fracture image

Elizabeth

About a month ago I started running to get more exercise. The sneakers I was using weren't for running and I developed shin splints which hurt while running only. I switched to better running shoes and continued running. Now my shin pain is constant, while walking though I haven't ran since last night. I can hop on my leg a few times but it hurts a lot after the first few. I'm not sure if my shin splints are just worse or developed into a stress fracture?

Answer

Is it possible to get a chronic stress fracture from running?

Kelsey

I have run competitively for the last 7 years of my life and I am now 21 and I can't go on a run longer than 2 miles without having pain in my lower shin. The doctor called it a stress fracture and so far this will be the fourth time I have been told its a stress fracture in a 4 year span. It keeps coming back and I take about 2 to 3 months rest when it does come back. Will it ever go away? Or has anyone gotten anything like this before?

Answer
If you mean by 'chronic' that you continue to get them, they don't go away and you can't run or train like you would like than YES, you can experience chronic stress fractures. A SEVERE stress fracture in my book would be one that literally cracks your shin bone.
I have had 3 bad stress fractures in my 35 years of running and racing. Two in my shin and one in my foot. If one of your episodes with this condition was or is severe you would know it from an x-ray, although sometimes inflammed tissue will hide it. I suggest trying to reduce this inflammation with ice and anti-inflammatory (Iboprofin) and then asking for an X-Ray. When I was 17 I had to take 6 weeks off from x-country training and swim everyday to stay in shape.
When I was 40 I trained for about 4 months for a marathon. race day came and I felt great and was running just under 8 minutes a mile pace. I felt pain at mile 7 and dropped out at mile 13. In that episode I received an X-ray that day and the fracture was visible enough to get a CAST that I had to wear for 6 weeks!
My point to my story is unfortunately you can continue to get them BUT when you do have one its important that you get a good assessment of how bad it is, so you can take the proper time off for it to heal, do what you can to stay in shape in that period, and try some things to avoid getting another one like:
- Holding your foot off the ground and rotating your foot around in circles 20 - 30 times before you run.
- Walking on your heels for one minute as part of your stretching regimen before you run.
- Grabbing a towel or clothes with your toes a couple of times a day for about 2 or 3 minutes, EVERYDAY. Its lind of funny but is geat for your shins and hey, your honing a new way to pick up your dirty socks and underwear from the floor. HA!
- And YES, there is always the SHOE ISSUE. There are some running shoe stores that will assess your stride and foot strike for free (roadrunnersports.com). New shoes that are RIGHT for you may end up being expensive but its worth it if this is the main cause to your problem.
- Change up the surface you run on. Park grass is best, then trails, then sidewalk, then asphalt streets. Too much street running is not good - period.

GOOD LUCK! .. and if you love to run and compete... don't give up.

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