During the course of a season there are many things that can cause the downfall of a team, injuries tend to be the most problematic. One of the most prevalent injuries that occurs are shin splints. The definition of shin splints is acute pain in the shin and lower leg caused by prolonged running, typically on hard surfaces. This type of injury can sideline an athlete for weeks if not treated properly.
What is the treatment for shin splints? Most physicians and/or PT’s will say that rest is the only cure. This is only partially accurate. It depends on the severity of the injury, however rest is usually necessary. The underlying cause of shin splints is a lack of mobility throughout the ankle and foot. When teams start their preseason training, most coaches try to run the athletes into the ground because they believe that this is the best way to condition. A far more reasonable way to condition is to gradually progress your running over several weeks. This also means you have to warm up properly and stretch and foam roll at the end of your workouts. Most injuries are preventable if you take the time to do the right type of training with athletes.
The teams that have a high incidence of injuries at the beginning of the season is due to improper training protocol. Most coaches do not value the importance of warming up properly or cooling down at the end of a practice. These two things alone are some of the most crucial aspects to keeping your athletes healthy and on the field.
Some things to take a look at are your athlete’s foot position when it strikes the ground. If the toe is turned outward this means the hip is not functioning correctly. This can be fixed with corrective techniques, stretching, and foam rolling. If the toe turns inward otherwise known as “pigeon-toed”, this can cause knee and hip pain. The ideal foot strike is from front to back and straight. All of these things can contribute to other issues, which will sideline your athletes.
If you are suffering from shin splints or any other injury, let Xcellerated Speed Training provide you with a solution to your problems.