Are you wondering whether you should see a shin splints physio? Well, Seeing a shin splints physio can offer several benefits. First and foremost, they can provide an accurate diagnosis of your condition. Whether your shin splints stem from overuse, improper biomechanics, muscle imbalances, muscle weakness, or other factors, a physiotherapist can pinpoint the root cause, which is crucial for effective treatment.

Once the cause is identified, a shin splints physio can help long term to build strength in the weak muscle groups, (Normally the hip stablisers muscles gluteus medius, minimus and the obturators) and the foot and calf muscles and intrinsic muscles. A physio can then help shin splints with initial treatment, including soft tissue work, acupuncture for shin splints, massage for shin splints, and a gym and strength program for these muscles.

It’s my first long run after a couple weeks off and I'm struggling through the last kilometre. I spot someone up on the path ahead. It’s a man walking his dog and heading in my direction. I discreetly adjust my posture - stand tall, shoulders back, strong strides. I’m getting closer, about 10metres away. I have to time this just right. I wait until the last moment. Í take one last breath of air and then, holding my breath with the most relaxed face I can muster up, I seamlessly glide past the pair, abdominals braced, silent and effortless as if I could do this all day!

So here’s what’s up with me. I reckon I’ve touched more calves in the last three months than in the preceding five years.

I’m not mad about it - it’s a really cool area to treat. It isn’t, however, usually among my clients’ favourite areas to get treated. If you’ve ever had a firm massage to the lower leg you’ll know what I’m talking about.

Running is one of the most simple and basic practices yet can be the most problematic forms of exercise for many. As humans we are designed to run, and to run long distance, so don’t give up on the weekend trots because here are some great exercises to have you gliding along the track and overtaking that guy with his ipod strapped to his arm.

Thinking back to my teens, I distinctly remember hearing my mum talking about going for a walk and thinking to myself “what a lazy form of exercise”. I thought, “my parents just got slack, that’ll never happen to me”, and “why walk when you can run??”.

How immature and completely wrong I was!

As we finish our month’s focus on all things ‘Running’, we dovetail into our next with the hot topic of ‘CrossFit’ (Open Season…oh yeah!)

But before we get stuck into the real CrossFit stuff, we want to explore the commonly asked question about whether CrossFit and training for an endurance running event (like a half or a full marathon) can live together…

Our last blog in this 'Running' series is left in my capable hands. It's a case of aiming to demystify running shoes for you all.

Shoes these days are as clear as mud to the general public, and unfortunately many clinicians never analyse the effect of the running shoe on the ankle, hip, knee and back.

Working in a profession that involves footwear I see it/ hear it everyday and when I ask this question to patients. "Why are you wearing those running shoes?"

The generic answer is;

“To give me support”

or

“control rolling in of my foot”

Shoes are an extremely powerful product that can cause damage from the moment you put them on, the structural changes they cause through the foot can be mind blowing.

First of all, supportive shoes cause the foot strike to occur further away from the centre of gravity, this causes a series of ground reaction forces as a result!