Sara said:Hi there - thanks for your response. What I've tenatively
ruled the cause of the pain as at this point is this: poor
shoes, too much too soon, and just walking incorrectly.
Since my original post, I've worked on lengthening my
stride by pusing my knees back to where they almost lock
when my leg is extended behind me. It's kind of like when
you're hiking and you go up a hill - if you almost lock
your knees on the way the way up, your bones and joints
(instead of muscles) take the stress of the climb and make
it a little easier - your legs don't get pooped out so
soon. The idea is the same with walking, except because
I'm on a level surface and not a hill (most of the time),
I need to push my hips back and out a little. I'm not sure
if this is the "correct" way to do it, but I haven't had
the pain since I've started it. I do experience a little
pain in my hips, but I think that may be due to my leg-
length discrepancy. I've got sortof a boy-ish gait and not
the hip-swinging motions of a girl so my hips are not used
to moving much as I walk. Anyway, yesterday I walked 4
miles without any problems.
My other two issues - bad shoes and too much too soon -
can be remedied easy enough. Actually finding shoes that
fit my feet correctly is usually a chore. Since my legs
are different lengths the foot of my shorter leg is *much*
wider than my other one. My left foot needs a wide width
shoe while my right one swims in wides. Grrr. Probably
time to go to the podiatrist again, anyway.
Sorry for the digression and rambling. It does sound like
we're experiencing the same pain, though. I thought I was
the only one. Nice to know otherwise. Good luck with your
search for your cure! I'd be glad if I were of any help.
Sara
"No Spam" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:I've been walking on and off for years but the same
problem returns again and again. The muscle that runs
on top of the shin, and the outside of
the
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:shin bone, starts to tense as I warm up.
I'm here for the same reason... looking for some
guidance as to whether there is anything that can be
done to aid/prevent this... although I'm going to assume
that it's just that the muscles haven't totally adapted
to the excersie yet.
You say you've been walking on & off for years... once
this pain pops up, are you stopping your walking? or do
you go back the next day? The reason I ask is because,
in my case (on 3 mile walks), the soreness is exactly
what you describe for my first 1.5 miles, but the my
next 1.5 miles is a breeze, with no problems. I know my
case is newbitis, while my muscles haven't totally
gotten used to the excersie-pace walking... as each day
the soreness during my walk is a little less than the
day before.
Does your pain persist after your walk? My shins are
'tight' all day, but not really sore.... it's only
during the walk when that soreness is present. How fast
are your attempting to walk? I'm starting out with a
pretty good pace, around 3.5-4 mph... and am going to
start out a lil slower and work my way up to that pace
to see if it helps.
Anywho, I could be totally wrong, but I'm just going to
guess you are in the same boat as myself and that your
muscles haven't totally adapted to your excersice just
yet... but will go away with more excercise.
Quoted message said:PS - I thought this pain was shin splints for awhile,
but I just looked
it
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:up online and have changed my mind.
You are correct, shin splints & walking is just about
unheard of.
If the pain is persistent over several weeks of walking and
you have tried walking slower, then you have a problem that
is not easily remedied by the 'professionals' on the net.
Time to use up some of that insurance money if you have been
paying it or hit the piggy bank and drop in on a physician
that is trained to recognize these symptoms. If you have
been saving for a rainy day...it is here.
Pain in that area of muscle is sometimes caused by keeping
the lower foot too rigid - kind of like lifting the toes up.
You might be able to mimic the pain by doing that at home
while watching TV or reading. Flex your foot and toes up
with your foot heel on the floor and hold it.
Other than slowing the pace down for several weeks to allow
the tendon to heal/form AND focusing on relaxing the lower
foot while striding forward, not much I can recommend. Some
times a new more rigid shoe will cause some temporary lower
frontal leg pain.
You can fill in a loose shoe with inserts. Several boot
makers (e.g., Vasques) provide 'fillers' from lightweight to
large-thick to accommodate most loose fitting boots. These
fillers come as simple pads or include arch support as well.
You might consider a small, padded heel lift on your short
side, Sara. Be warned, however, that slight changes like
that can give you some discomfort or minor pain in all kinds
of places for a few weeks until everything gets 'adjusted'
for the new gait and weight distribution.
Other tricks for different size feet is to cut the toe end
off ONE of the heavy socks you use. That maimed sock goes on
the tight fitting foot. Or simply skip the heavy sock on the
tight foot. So if you get shoes that are just a little
beyond the comfy side on one side and just a little too
loose on the other, you have a chance at a better fit.
For best walking/hiking shoe fit, get fitted in the
afternoon when your feet normally are the largest from being
on them all day long. Take two socks - one light weight and
the other a heavier weight. For hiking boots you should be
able to stick one or two fingers in between your heel and
the back of the shoe - when the shoe/boot us unlaced and
your toe is as far forward as possible. The toe area should
allow your toes to play the piano in the shoe but plenty of
mid foot support. When laced up, your foot should not ride
up and down in the heel area as you walk. Your toes
definitely should not be able to touch the boot even if you
give the toe a good kicking whack at a wall.
