What have I done to my leg?

[Firefoot]

I've been doing interval training on the running machine. Sprint for 2 minutes and then walk for 1 minute, repeat for around 20 mins.

Last night I was doing this on the treadmill when I started to get an intense pain in my right leg about 3.5 inches below the knee. If I push on the front of my leg against the bone it feels as though there is a bruise there, but there is nothing, I haven't bumped my leg and it just started about 8 minutes into my treadmill session. After another 2 minutes I was unable to continue running on it.
Hurt for a good while after I stopped running.

I should point out my legs were fully warmed up having done 12K's on the bike first.

Any ideas? Should I just get back on the treadmill and see if it does it again?

[alfa pint]

Sounds like either shin splints at worst. More likely to be the very thin sheath of muscle on the front of your shin protesting about the abuse! Try stretching it by lying down on your back and pointing your toes down as far as you can. Makes sure you have a rest day built into your routine. If it's still giving you gyp in a week, then it might well be shin splints and therefore time to see the doc.

[Ordinary_Chap]

alfa pint said:

Sounds like either shin splints at worst. More likely to be the very thin sheath of muscle on the front of your shin protesting about the abuse! Try stretching it by lying down on your back and pointing your toes down as far as you can. Makes sure you have a rest day built into your routine. If it's still giving you gyp in a week, then it might well be shin splints and therefore time to see the doc.

+1 From someone with shin splints.

[Firefoot]

Bummer, I was just really getting into the runing side of things. I stayed off the treadmill yesterday at the gym and today is a rest day. Will give it a go again on Thursday and see what happens.

[paulmurr]

Check that you don't have flat feet, that's what caused my shin splints. Maybe try some insoles to support the arch of your foot.

[Morba]

I'd lay off it for more than a day. Shin splints can be a right pain if you dont recover fully.

[Meoricin]

Morba said:

I'd lay off it for more than a day. Shin splints can be a right pain if you dont recover fully.

THIS - I tried to start running properly last year, and only managed three weeks - the third week I got really into it and did a week of 2 miles > 2 miles > 3 miles > 4 miles, one run each evening. I ignored the pain assuming it was just in my imagination or something I could run through without causing problems, and I haven't been able to run for more than a mile since then without them coming back. Sometimes get them from sustained quick walking or particularly heavy squats/leg press now, and they're not an issue I'd experienced before that week.

I would definitely recommend you look into what's causing them and find a solution before you start running any distance. I've had to switch to cycling as an alternative form of cardio.

[Odie]

Ive had a similar problem to you meoricin,

I started running, struggled, hit it too hard (4 evenings in a row) I then sorted out my routine, 2 rest days between each run and it was ok, but last week it started getting worse again, now I have pain in my ankle constantly and sometimes have to limp a little.


I thought I could run through it but im going to give it a week before I try to run again. If it still hurts in a couple of weeks I'll go see a doc I think.

[King Herald]

I used to get it when I did skipping a lot, ahem, I jumped rope a lot. (gruff voice)

It does heal, but the best remedy is prevention, through a real good warm up, and stretching before exercise etc etc.

As far as I know it is where the tendons start to rip off of the shin bone.

[Firefoot]

Thanks for all the advice. I have stayed off it for the last few gym sessions, sticking to cycling and cross trainer instead.

There is a shop locally that does gait analysis etc before selling you trainers and my gym has a 10% off deal with them, so I think I will pop along tomorrow and see what they say just in case it is the way I am running etc.