A question about shin splints

[obliterate]

I've just developed shin splints right at the start of the cricket season. I'm a bowler so that is going to effect me a lot. For those that don't know bowling requires you to run in and with a small leap put all your weight on your left leg and pivot. This is on hard wickets so it's nearly as hard as concrete.

I just wanted to know, is there anything I can do to reduce the severity of to help heal the shin splints so I can bowl properly sooner? Or is rest the only option?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Joe Harker]

I had that a few years ago and being a bowler as well as you it took me out of a few games. So i know your pain!

I hate to say it but you just have to rest it and not put too much weight on it for it to heal quickly. And when you start bowling again, be soft on it otherwise it will keep coming back.

 

[obliterate]

How long do you think it'll take to heal? Is running okay or not?

 

[Rambuchan]

I was a fast bowler who experienced this a fair bit. I was advised to change my spikes to something that provided more cushioning under the footfall, because apparently shin splints are caused and aggravated by the vibrations from heavy footfalls. I followed the advice and it worked for me. You may also want to up the amount of calcium / milk you consume to keep your bones strong (edit: even though shin splints are a muscular not skeletal problem btw).

If you bowl a lot in hot weather, you probably also experience cramp a fair bit. If so, make sure you get a bit more salt into your system before a game, that you rehydrate after a match and that you put your feet up, vertically even, after a game.

 

[Joe Harker]

For me, i didn't do any running for a week, and a little bit in week 2, although by about day 5 the pain was mostly gone. It may be different for you, mine wasn't that bad luckily.

 

[Joe Harker]

Self Care
At the first sign of pain in the shins, stop your activity. Trying to exercise through the soreness will only aggravate the condition and cause it to worsen.

Immediately massage the area with ice to reduce inflammation and irritation. The ice acts like a quick-acting, anti-inflammatory medication.


For pain relief and help to decrease the swelling, your physician may suggest taking ibuprofen, as directed.


Do not apply heat to the area. Shin splints are an inflammatory condition, and heat will only irritate the area even more.


Healing time can be as little as two to three weeks (if you cut back on your exercise and begin aggressive self-help measures), but in some cases, recovery can take as long as 12 to 14 weeks before pain subsides.



Taken from this website
http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/213/main.html

 

[obliterate]

Yeah. I only get the sharp pain every now and then when I land. I still going to play but just put as little strain on it as possible and wait until the summer break.

@Rambuchan - Thanks for the advice. I'll have to take it. What's this about salt?
EDIT: Just saw that link. Very helpful. I actually think it might be stress fractures. What did shin splints feel like?

 

[Joe Harker]

Salts help prevent cramp i think.

Edit, low salts concentration in blood can induce cramps, according to the reliable information at wikipedia!

 

[Rambuchan]

Salts help prevent cramp i think.

Yup. That's what I'm on about.

So does potassium (bananas and potatoes are a good source for this) and plenty of water.

I used to bowl lengthy spells of 10 plus overs and, especially when it is hot, you naturally sweat a lot. This deprives your body of both water and salt. Best to keep yourself topped up, otherwise you suffer terrible cramp after a game. I certainly used to until I started munching on bananas and downing a glass of salty water before and in the middle of games.

 

[obliterate]

Salty water? I'll eat the bananas though.