Shin splints include pain felt anywhere along the shinbone. The pain is caused by inflammation of the muscles, tendons, and bone tissue in that area. They are common in runners and are a red flag that something needs to change before serious injury may occur. Shin spilts are never just an issue of the shins. They are a product of improper running mechanics and posture. As your foot hits the ground unsupported, disproportionate and damaging force travels up the shin which causes the pain you are experiencing.

In order to treat shin splints, you need to be able to assess and treat the entire body. Because shin splits are not just an issue within the shin, you need to see a professional who specialises in biomechanics. Why? You will need to adjust the way your body interacts with gravity and the ground in order to stop getting shin splints. You could treat the local inflammation, run less, strap or wrap your shin… But if you want to be able to keep running without the pain coming back, you need to change the way you move. This kind of adjustment requires a biomechanics specialist who understands the entire body and how it interacts with itself, as well as the outside world.

If they are correctly treated through the alteration of your running mechanics, yes. If they are left untreated, they may go away if you run less, but they will almost always come back once you begin running again. Why? They are there for a reason. Shin splints are a warning from your body that the way you are running is causing damage to your structure. Change the way you move your structure and you will change the level of pain.

Knee pain occurs because of inflammation and/or damage caused by improper movement and posture. There is rarely anything wrong with the knee, rather, an issue with the way the knee is interacting with the rest of the body and the outside world. If your foot, hip, back or general alignment is out, your knees are prone to take the load. Being right above the foot (where your body interacts with the ground) and having a large range of motion makes the knee highly susceptible to the effects of poor biomechanics. This is exacerbated in runners and is why knee pain is coined ‘runners’ knee.’

If it is correctly addressed through the alteration of your running mechanics, yes. If they are left untreated, the pain may go away if you run less, but it will almost always come back once you begin running again. Why? The pain is there for a reason. Knee Pain is a warning from your body that the way you are running is causing damage to your structure. Change the way you move your structure and you will change the level of pain. Remember, knee pain will rarely just be ‘knee pain’ and will often manifest into many other pains around the body due to the causal dysfunctions.

In order to treat knee pain, you need to be able to assess and treat the entire body. Because knee pain is not just an issue within the knee, you need to see a professional who specialises in biomechanics. Why? You need to adjust the way your body interacts with gravity and the ground in order to stop getting the pain. You could treat the local inflammation, run less, strap or wrap your knees… But if you want to be able to keep running without the pain coming back, you need to change the way you move. This kind of adjustment requires a biomechanics specialist who understands the entire body and how it interacts with itself, as well as the outside world. Fixing your biomechanics will also greatly improve your running technique and the fitness and muscle gains created through correct running form. Because you will be address the deep dysfunctions in your structure and mechanics, you will simultaneously see an improvement in all areas - even those you did not know where your upcoming hurdle or pain point.