I Have Shin Splints and They Came Back After I Increased My Running Mileage

Shin splint pain that returns after you increase your running mileage can leave your shins sore and tender because the added distance is stressing them faster than they can recover.

You may have been running comfortably for a while, then noticed your shin pain returning after adding more miles to your weekly routine. Your first few steps might feel normal, but the shins can become sore as the run continues, or you may finish the run and notice the pain more clearly afterward.

The change in mileage matters because even a gradual increase can make your runs longer or more frequent than your shins were recently accustomed to. If the area was still sensitive from your earlier bout of shin splints, adding distance can bring the same aching or tender feeling back before the problem has fully settled.

Your Shins Start Hurting After The Mileage Increase

The familiar shin pain returns once your runs become longer.

You may notice aching or tenderness along the inside or front of your shins that was not bothering you at your previous mileage. The pain can become more noticeable later in a longer run because your shins are dealing with repeated impact for a longer period.

Your Shins Stay Sore After Longer Runs

Your shins may remain tender even after you finish running.

You might feel soreness when walking around after your run or notice that your shins are still tender when you start your next workout. When the soreness carries from one run into the next, increasing mileage again can keep bringing the same pain back.

Why Your Shin Pain Returns After More Miles

Your shins have a hard time healing when blood flow and circulation are limited.

Tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues naturally receive less blood supply than many other parts of the body. Because of this, they often take longer to heal after repeated stress or injury, leaving you more vulnerable to lingering pain and a cycle of reinjury.

When circulation through the area remains limited, injured tissues have a harder time receiving the vital oxygen and nutrients they need to repair and heal. This can leave your shins feeling stiff, tight, weak, or painful during everyday movement and activity.

What Can Help Your Shins Feel Better

Your shins start feeling better when blood flow and circulation improve.

Chinese herbs have been used for centuries to promote healthy blood flow and circulation. Their medicinal properties help break up stagnant blood and fluids that remain trapped around injured tissues, interfering with circulation. As circulation improves, blood flows more freely through the area, allowing those tissues to receive the oxygen and nutrients they need to heal properly.

Topical herbal remedies made with these Chinese herbs can help relieve pain while improving blood flow and circulation to injured tissues. The right product depends on your symptoms and whether you're in the acute or chronic stage of recovery.

If you have pain, swelling, inflammation, or bruising, Acute Sinew Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by increasing circulation and dispersing stagnant blood and fluids around the injured area to speed recovery. During the acute stage of healing, getting circulation moving early allows injured tissues to receive the fresh blood, oxygen, and nutrients they need to repair and heal.

If your injured area is especially swollen, red, or warm to the touch after a recent injury or flare-up, Sinew Herbal Ice is also used to reduce swelling and inflammation while restoring normal circulation so you can quickly regain range of motion. While traditional ice is commonly used to reduce swelling, Sinew Herbal Ice acts as an ice alternative to reduce swelling and inflammation while also dispersing accumulated blood and fluids to speed the healing process.

If you no longer have swelling or inflammation, but still have pain, stiffness, weakness, or sensitivity in cold and damp weather, Chronic Sinew Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by strongly stimulating circulation and increasing blood supply to injured tendons and ligaments to promote their healing. This is especially important because tendons and ligaments naturally receive less blood supply, which is why chronic injuries can take longer to heal.

If you have residual pain and stiffness, or the area becomes more painful in cold weather, Sinew Injury Poultice is also used to significantly stimulate circulation to injured tendons and ligaments to further promote their healing. By strongly increasing circulation, it counteracts the reduced blood flow caused by cold weather that commonly aggravates chronic tendon and ligament injuries.

If you exercise, play sports, or do other strenuous activities, Sinew Sports Massage Oil warms and stimulates muscles for exertion and relieves muscle tightness and soreness after activity. Warming and preparing your muscles before activity can improve flexibility, enhance performance, and reduce the risk of injury.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may also find these commonly asked questions helpful.

Why did my shin splints come back after increasing my mileage?

Your added mileage may have increased the repeated stress on your shins faster than they could recover between runs.

Can increasing running mileage cause shin splints to return?

Yes. A sudden or sustained increase in running distance can bring shin splint pain back, especially if your shins were still recovering.

Why do my shins hurt after I run more miles?

Longer runs expose your shins to repeated impact for more time, which can make aching and tenderness return during or after the run.

Should I keep increasing my mileage if my shin splints come back?

If your shin pain has returned, continuing to increase mileage can keep aggravating the problem. Reducing or modifying your running and allowing the area to recover may be appropriate.

What should I do if my shin splints keep coming back when I run farther?

Pay attention to when the pain appears and avoid repeatedly pushing through worsening symptoms. Persistent or worsening shin pain should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.

The information provided here is intended to help you better understand your symptoms and recovery, but it is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Persistent, severe, or worsening symptoms should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.