They are killing me already this year. I have new shoes, Converse mid-cut with the Spenco insoles for extra cushion. I had someone tell me last night that wearing tube socks helps. Any other ideas? The only thing that seems to work for me is ibuprofen.

Lose the converse. It is either coincidence or the shoes, mine left right after I switched to new balance.

Do a Google search on shin splints and also look for taping. There are sites that have “how to tape the foot” info. You should also look into motion-control shoes. RunnersWorld.com or a good runners shoe store with personal attention should help.

Cut down on the number of games may be the best of all things to do.

Cut down on the number of games?
 

Originally posted by devdog69


Cut down on the number of games may be the best of all things to do. [/QUOTE]

What are you NUTS! I'd Cut off my feet, before I surrender my games! :D

What I was told by the athletic trainer at the Air Force Academy was to build up your arch. Buy some arch supports. The other thing is to ice the legs after every night of officiating.

ok, that gives me a little to look into. I really don't think it is the shoes, they are new this year and the splints are actually not as bad either. Probably not much chance of cutting down on the games, just too much fun. 20 dates in January, that should be a test.

Here is the exercise that saved me: Walk ten steps on toes, then ten steps on heels (toes up as high as possible). Do this around the house at first and then about a quarter mile per day. Really helped me A LOT!!

Juulie,I don't own any heels,and when I wear my wife's she gives me the strangest look!But I'll try it if you think it will help!:D:

Get the Spenco palstic insoles, not the soft cushy ones. Your feet and arches need support, not cushion.

http://www.spenco.com/home.html

Buy your self some support socks. Theyy're like compression shorts for the feet and shins. They are very, very tight. I wear two pair when I officiate. They are so tight that it takes me about 5 minutes just to put the socks on. Futuro makes a good sock and it's available at CVS. See the link below for a desription.

http://www.medichest.com/futuromensfirmsuppor-003.html

BTW, you're right. It's not the shoes. Nothing wrong with the Converse Whistles, at IMO.

Shin Splints
 

I had problems with shin splints (and various other nagging foot/leg problems) for years before I finally broke down and went to a podiatrist. He set me up with prescription orthotics for both my everyday street shoes and my basketball shoes. It can get a little expensive if your insurance doesn't cover it (around $300 for a pair), and they take a little time getting used to, but I haven't had any shin splints since I started using them.

LB Ref is correct. Would you believe my heels and arches hurt more after a football game than after two basketball games? My podiatrist told me about Spenco. The Spenco Orthotics are a fraction of the cost and were recommended by the doctor when we learned my insurance wouldn't cover the custom orthotics. I can't imagine the custom being much better than the Spenco. Whether it's shin splints, heel spurs or plantar fasciitis, you'll see a drastic improvement in how your feet and legs feel.

Shin Splints
 

The Spenco orthotics actually work fine for about 95% of the people. Unfortunately I happen to fall into the other 5% category - my arches are so high and I have such a severe supination problem that custom orthotics were the only way to go. Even with the inserts, I still get a flare-up of planter faciitis on occasion, so sooner or later I'm probably going to end up getting arthroscopic surgery to correct the problem.

After 2 seasons of dealing with this I think what worked
for me was very simple: wear 2 pairs of socks when you
ref. Nothing else I tried helped, including orthotics,
ice, stretching (I didn't try my wife's heels!), wraps,
drugs. Maybe I'm lucky, who knows.

Hey the best thing for shin splints is plain rest and to get off of them. Shin splints are merely stress fractures. The atletic trainers can wrap your ankles to help relieve some of the pain. During the off season you need to make sure that you rest your legs properly. The best way to stay in shape is to get on a stationary bike. At the start of next season two weeks prior to your first game start streching and getting them ready. Sorry guys but I have to say it. LOSE SOME WEIGHT if you need to. Now that you have them the best way to relief some of the pressure is to ice them for 20 minutes after a game. Before a game get them warm before you really get going on them. Hair dryer, shower, hot tub, hot pad, or anything else that you can think of. Then get a good strech. Good luck

I'm not sure this is true. My sister is not yet a doctor, but she is in medical school, and in her sports medicine rotation, she learned that shin splints are actually inflammation of the muscles and tentonds that connect the bones in the lower leg. The reasons they inflame are complicated, but the exercises I described above are designed to strengthen those muscles so they won't keep re-swelling.

I do use orthotics, too, though, and they help a lot with various foot pains I would get from time to time.

I am sorry but to correct myself when talking about stress fractures. I thought to myself but didn't convey the correct message. Stress fractures and shin splints are very common and are often mistaken for each other. The following website gives more detail about shinsplints. Also it shows a way that you can tape your leg for relief.

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cy...hinsplints.htm

Me too!
 

I'm slowly recovering.... Back on 12/8 we began our youth league and I ran the court for 13 hours! Now 11 days later my shin splint has decreased from ankle-to-knee down to about 2-3 inches. Hope it recovers by Saturday!

I've been told to increase the arch support for extra help, even to the point that it feels uncomfortable. I already use the Spenco insoles (green and yellow -- are they the right ones?). Wrapping also helps. I used an Ace bandage last Saturday and it did help a bunch, but....

No thanks!
I have hairy legs!
Sorry if that was too much information. :D

BTW, two pairs of supports socks work just as well or better than taping. And, they don't pull the hair off your legs! :)

Mine are black and green. Black molded plastic and green cloth on top.

shin splints
 

I've found that the more I try to run "lightly" the worse shin splints get. I believe that running on my toes, rather than a full "heel strike" run, makes the problem worse. Try landing first on the heel and see if it helps at all. - Kelly

Did she stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night?

:D

Re: shin splints
 

I tried that. Now I have a heal injury!

Running on the toes does make it worse. That's why sprinters have continuous shin-splint problems. That's why the exercise of walking on heels helps -- it strengthens the muscles that are hurting so that they won't hurt so bad. I"m not explaining this very well -- take my sister's word for it and try the exercises I described above. They helped me and nothing else did.

Dexter -- If by last night you mean, Dec 20, then the answer is no. But what kind of a weird question is it anyway?

:D

Juulie, don't you have Holiday Inn Express commercials where you live? Staying there is supposed to make you smarter.

Ref with feet problems: "I have terrible shin splints."

Juulie's sister: "Well, don't run on your toes. Run on your heels and your shins won't hurt as much."

Ref with feet problems: "Wow, thanks! Are you a doctor?"

Juulie's sister: "No, I'm not, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night!" :D

I'm sure we do have that item here in Portland, but I do not 1see TV ads much since 2 I have 3 make that four children (5one of whome is helpimg me6 type this) 4and a grand-daughter all 7of whom need some soret 8of attention at least9 once a day. Sample dialog at my house:

Clinton: Mom, look at this ad, it's so funny!
Me:Really, dear?
Copeland: (from the other room) Mom, where are my socks?
Me: (heading for Copeland's bedroom) Did you look under your bed?
Jessica: (3on phone) Can you watch QuiAndra tonight, mom ? Or doyou have a7 game?
Me:How is she today, sweetie? is her cold any better?
Frank-Mason: I poopy mommy I poopy mommy I poopy mommy
Me01aABCDEFGHJKLMMMMMMMMMMMONNNPQ
Me: (scooping him up gingerly) Why didn't you tell me sooner --- AUGH look at the mess.....

Clinton: It's on again
Copeland: No socks here mom
Jessica: I'll call you backxr
Frank-Mason: No bath mommy no bath monmmy mo bath mommy

Now you all know why I'm good at reffing: It seems like a quiet day at the library compared to home~!!!!!


tusxyz

I understand with Juulie and her typist. As much as it shocks me, it is actually quieter in my dormitory than at home!

Just wanted to update the shin splint issue that I was having, how I dealt with it per advice from all of you in case someone else out there may need some help with it. I got about two weeks rest over Christmas break and worked Jan. 3 and my legs felt great, alas, the next day the shin splints were there. The first thing I did was order some insoles with the hard plastic arch support and the sorbothane heel and toe cushioning from Arch and Heel.com for about $40, they were junk, very little arch support and starting to tear away in the heel after one use. Finally found some SOF SOLE Motion Control hard plastic arch supports. They had quite a bit of arch support, feels like you are standing on a ball or something, I think they cost around $30. Then I got some calf pullovers made by McDavid for $20. Got the Sof Sole and the McDavid pullovers at Gallyans which is a very big sporting goods store. Don't know if it was one or the other or a combination of the two, but my shin splints have improved dramatically. They are not completely gone, I still have a brownie pop or two before most game nights. But, considering I started my preventative methods after the problem was already there, I can definitely see great improvement. Hopefully, next year if I start the season on rested legs and these items, I can eliminate the problem. Thanks for the help, guys. ...and gals.

First thing you do is get rid of your Converse shoes. I've had terrible problems and midway through the season switched to the New Balance. They definitely help. Also icing you skins before and especially after will help heal them. Stretching will help tremendously too. Stretch out the bottom of your feet by rolling a golf ball under them. Also other calf and lower muscles stretches will help. I've also been told to take 2 Advil, once daily for three days to work as an anti-inflammatory. Hope this helps and Good Luck!

Brian Watson, where did you get your New Balance and what model are they (804?)?