Stretches to Ease and Prevent Shin Splints

For the first exercise, sit on the floor with your knees straight. Loop a rope or towel around the front of your foot and use the towel to pull your foot totally flexed, then maintain the stretch in flexed position for 30 seconds. Keep your legs flat on the floor. The motion should only be at your ankle joints.

Repeat this stretch five times. Do this three times per day.

Once you have mastered the stretch of the back of the leg (calf), it is time to strengthen the front of the leg (shin/ankle) by using a resistance band. Perform the same movements, but loop a resistance band around the front of your foot and the other end of the band around a table or chair leg.

Repeat this strengthening exercise five times. Do this three times per day.

The toe walking exercise begins by standing in place and rising up onto your toes with your heels off of the floor. Try to hold the position for 10 seconds and slowly lower your heels back to the floor.

Note that if you're feeling pain, you should stop. If an overworked muscle is causing your shin splints, utilizing that muscle could make your shin splints worse—and standing on your toes may be very uncomfortable in this case. Listen to your body and proceed gently.

Start with 3 sets of 10 exercises and then increase to 3 sets of 30 exercises. Do this 3 times per day.

Once you have mastered standing in one place, start walking on your toes. Start with your toes pointed straight ahead, walk about 25 yards. Next, point your toes inward and walk 25 yards. Finish by pointing your toes outward and walk 25 yards. Remember to keep your heels off the floor.

Start with three sets of 10 exercises and then increase to three sets of 30 exercises. Do this three times per day.

The heel walking exercise begins by standing in place and lifting the front of your foot off of the floor and keeping your heels on the floor. As long as you're not in pain, try to hold the position for 10 seconds and then slowly lower the front of your foot back to the floor.

Start with three sets of 10 exercises and then increase to three sets of 30 exercises. Do this three times per day.

Once you have mastered standing in one place, start walking on your heels. Start with your toes pointed straight ahead, walk about 25 yards. Next, point your toes inward and walk 25 yards. Finish by pointing your toes outward and walk 25 yards. Remember to keep the front of your foot off of the floor.

Start with three sets of 10 exercises and then increase to three sets of 30 exercises. Do this three times per day.

The standing ankle dorsiflexion stretch begins by standing and facing a wall. Keep your knee straight and your heel on the floor and place the front bottom part of your foot against the wall. You will feel a stretch in your calf muscles. You could also use an inclined platform for this stretch.

Start with three sets of 10 exercises and then increase to three sets of 30 exercises. Do this three times per day.

The straight knee calf wall stretch begins by standing and facing a wall with your body square to the wall. Outstretch your arms and hands and lean against the wall. Keep one knee straight with your heel and foot firmly on the floor and gently lean forward until you feel a pull in the back of your leg (calf). When your knee is straight, this stretches the gastrocnemius (superficial calf muscle). Hold for 30 seconds.

Repeat this stretch five times. Do this three times per day.

The bent knee calf wall stretch also begins with standing and facing a wall with your body square to the wall. Outstretch your arms and hands and lean against the wall. Keep one knee bent with your heel and foot firmly on the floor and gently lean forward until you feel a pull in the back of your leg (calf). When your knee is bent, this stretches the soleus (deep calf muscle).

Repeat this stretch five times. Do this three times per day.

The wall toe raising exercise that helps with strengthening begins by standing with your back against a wall. Keep your heels on the floor and raise the front of your foot up (dorsiflexion) toward the front of your lower leg (shin). Hold that position for 10 seconds and then lower your foot back down so that it almost touches the floor, then begin the next exercise.

Start with three sets of 10 exercises and then increase to three sets of 30 exercises. Do this three times per day.

Once you have mastered doing the exercise with both feet at the same time, start to do the exercise one leg at a time.

Another variation to try is to do quick up and downs of the foot. Remember to keep your heel firmly planted on the floor.

Start with three sets of 10 exercises and then increase to three sets of 30 exercises. Do this three times per day.

This exercise helps strengthen the muscles in the front of your lower legs.

Begin by standing comfortably with your feet shoulder-width apart. Take a normal sized step forward with one leg and let your heel touch the floor, but before the front bottom part of your foot touches the floor you need to stop. Do not let the front part of your foot hit the floor. Step back so your feet are side by side and shoulder-width apart as when you started.

Frequency

Start with three sets of 10 exercises and then increase to three sets of 30 exercises. Do this three times per day.

Once you have mastered a normal size step, take a much larger step forward. If that becomes easy, you can progress to using a step stool. Stand with both feet on the step stool and step down off the stool with one foot. Your heel should touch the floor, but you should stop before the front of your foot touches the floor.

Start with three sets of 10 exercises and then increase to three sets of 30 exercises. Do this 3 times per day.

Shin splints can disrupt even the most motivated runner's plans. Ideally, shin splints could be prevented from occurring in the first place but that's not always possible.

It's important to note that there are ways to reduce your risk of shin splints other than stretching. Trying to run on soft surfaces, getting adequate rest between runs, and trying to avoid heel striking and toe running (especially when running downhill) can all help reduce your risk or reduce your discomfort from shin splints.

There are other things that can make a difference as well, and if you are either living with shin splints today, or trying to avoid them in the future, it's a good idea to connect with a physical therapist who is not only knowledgable but has experience in helping other athletes with this annoying condition. For example, a 2019 study notes that the "kinematics," or how runners place their feet when running, can play a significant role in both the prevention and recovery (rehabilitation) from shin splints or medial tibial stress syndrome.