The pain is fromoverload on your tibia and the connective tissues that attach your muscles to your tibia. The medical term is medial tibial stress syndrome. The easiest way to handle shin splints is prevention -

Wear proper footwear. Supportive, and I reccommend new shoes every 4000 miles. If you're flat footed or have arch issues, consider orthodics - they can help lessen the impact, support your feet and disperse the impact too. Also add strengthening and stability training to your workout - which will help your muscles withstand the shock better - strengthen lower legs with resistance bands or tibles and one-leg standing is excellent for stability training.

A good supply of Motrin, a bottle of lab grade DMSO, and there you go.

I think I'd replace my shoes about every 400 miles (was that a typo, JJ?) instead of every 4,000. 5 X 365 is a new pair of shoes every 3 years and some change. If you're running a lot, changing your shoes every 6 months isn't a bad idea. Back in the Infantry days we ran 5 a day except Thursdays. Went through a lot of shoes.


Shin splints are bad but if you start getting plantar faciaitis it'll make things a lot worse. I had to wear braces to bed for a while in Iraq due to that condition.

Nike Monster Shox.Best running shoes I ever bought. lighter than air and most comfortable.You dont hesitate to buy the best equipment for the job.Same goes for working out.Buy the best u can afford,and only use em to run with.Never thought when I used to wear Converses 4 everything that I'd own a set ofrunning shoes,but Live n Learn!!