Gear

als, i never have a poblem with shin splints in my scarpas, or any other footwear and i have a moulded insole with a heel lift attached.

like reiver, i get "splints" in the outside of my calf only when skiing due to my leg being permanently kept in one position by the ski boot.

the ONLY time i start to get splints is when i walk too fast or too longer stride (never when out for a day though because i never do either of those).

i come down on the side of technique. for walking just try walking slower/shorter strides and see if it happens again. once you get a comfortable, relaxing stride going you'll find that you can go faster anyway.

Parky Again wrote (see)

the ONLY time i start to get splints is when i walk too fast or too longer stride (never when out for a day though because i never do either of those).

PA, maybe try free heel gear if this is a problem that's lowering your enjoyment as you can move your legs around a lot more.  It's more difficult, of course, but not so difficult as to necessarily be problematical, and it opens up the telemark avenue for extra style points.  Note that you don't have to tele on tele gear, alpine turns work too so you can wedge, stem and parallel using the techniques you're used to.  You'd need new boots and bindings too, but you can use alpine skis with no particular problems.

Pete. 

what are shin splints?

a

Shin splints are micro-fractures in your tibia, that casue a symptom of pain in your shins every time your leg impacts the ground.  Not much fun...

Pete. 

I've got micro-fractures in my tibia! First time ever!

Shit splints.

As usual, there's always good advice on vitually ever issue under the sun on OM. So, thanks folks. Rocky's advice looks especially good.  

PS that will teach me to go from Devils Point to Braeriach crashing over all those rocks!

Shin splints is a bit of an umberella term for pain in the shins from running/hiking. It's not always micro-fractures or bits of bone pulling away. This might be the proper/original use of the term but it's not what most people are talking about.

Thanks Ptarmigan,

I was latching on to Peter's description.

I used to do a lot of running and never had this problem.

Old age must be catching up.

Might not be old age Nodrog, could be just soreness from not being used to being used a certain way.

 Something you could also try is sitting with your lower legs and feet flat on floor and bum on your heels for 30 secs. at a time. This will streach the shin muscles and might ease the soreness.

 One of the exercises my Physio. got me to do when I was injured and re-learning to walk. It help me, could be worth a try.

Thanks Huskyman,

I'll give this a try too (as well as Rocky's advice).

I think you are right. I worked out: I did 33k in 11 hours with 1500+metres of assent!.......   A lot of this was over boulders.

I guess my poor shins are not used to this: despite all my long distance walking experience.

The good news is that my sore shin is getting back to normal.