Being a teenage athlete I can certainly say that running can be either a blessing or a curse to the human body. Basing this statement off my current circumstances I may have to argue that it is a curse. Too much of any good thing can be a bad thing.
After running for about two years both competitively and just for the fun of it, I have been "blessed" with the injury of what my doctors seem to think of as "shin splints." I've been going to physical therapy for a solid five months, only to learn that my injury is much bigger and complicated than I thought.
To a runner shin splints are an extremely common injury. Changing running surfaces (such as gravel to concrete) can encourage the injury, as well as intensifying a workout.
However after research and long talks with my own physical therapist, I have come to learn that they can occur from much more serious problems as well.
Women, naturally, are built with much weaker hips than men, thus causing a more unstable pelvic region while running, often causing the motion of legs to pound more directly into the hard ground, causing more muscle irritation and stress upon the shins. Strengthening your hips can lead to a much more pleasant running experience and avoid future injury.
Along with weak hips, both women and men can have weak ankles. The weaker the ankle, the more likely it is to pronate, (as mine does quite drastically) causing improper landing of the foot during each step during a run, also causing it to pick up un-needed weight and stress from the body's own weight.
Believe it or not, balance plays a major role in strengthening one's ankles. Simply standing on one foot for a minute can improve the strength of your ankle, which can make a huge difference if you are trying to rid or prevent shin injury.
Every 350 to 500 miles (if you're even keeping track, that is) try to buy new running shoes, especially ones made to stop ankle pronation. Personally I have found going to a running store with trained running experts who know how to match foot size to shoe type can make a huge difference. I hate to say it (because I am a huge Nike fan myself) but the big name brand athletic clothing and shoe companies rarely make shoes that can withstand the average human beings foot type when it comes to high mileage running. Yes, they tend to make the coolest looking shoe, but to avoid injury it may be wise to invest in a running shoe company's product.
Lastly, and I cannot stress this enough, take care of your own body. Stretching your calves extremely well (especially after) you run can make all the difference. Keeping your muscles loose and comfortable is very important. To take it another step further, going to a store like Lowe's or Menard's and purchasing a simple three to six inch p.v.c. pipe to roll out your muscles on could be vital to keeping your muscles healthy and recover more quickly. Rolling out your muscles may bring tears to your eyes the first couple times but take it from an expert on rolling out: if it hurts, you need it!
And finally to take your shin injury prevention/cure one step further: massage and ice like absolute crazy! Ice after every single run or workout to help the swelling go down and to the numb the pain!
Shin splints can be tricky. To some they go away within a few days, and to others (such as myself) they go on for years! Luckily, running helps to build up a high pain tolerance and it won't be as bad! Just stay strong!
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