Many popular marathons take place in the Fall, making late summer "crunch time" for marathon training. John Rachoy, DPM, a board certified Indiana podiatrist at Medical Specialists Department of Podiatry, located in Northwest Indiana, says shin splints are the most common ailment below the knee to cause leg pain in runners.
While all runners are at risk for developing shin splints, some runners are more susceptible to injury than others. For example, females are twice as likely to develop a shin splint injury, as are runners who run on uneven surfaces such as gravel or sand. Intrinsic factors such as hormone levels, bone density, structural and biomechanical abnormalities, nutritional status and a previous running injury can also lead to shin splints.
While all runners are at risk for developing shin splints, some runners are more susceptible to injury than others. For example, females are twice as likely to develop a shin splint injury, as are runners who run on uneven surfaces such as gravel or sand. Intrinsic factors such as hormone levels, bone density, structural and biomechanical abnormalities, nutritional status and a previous running injury can also lead to shin splints.
