Ski Club 2.0 Home
Snow Reports
FAQFAQ

Mail for help.Help!!

Log in to snowHeads to make it MUCH better! Registration's totally free, of course, and makes snowHeads easier to use and to understand, gives better searching, filtering etc. as well as access to 'members only' forums, discounts and deals that U don't even know exist as a 'guest' user. (btw. 50,000+ snowHeads already know all this, making snowHeads the biggest, most active community of snow-heads in the UK, so you'll be in good company)..... When you register, you get our free weekly(-ish) snow report by email. It's rather good and not made up by tourist offices (or people that love the tourist office and want to marry it either)... We don't share your email address with anyone and we never send out any of those cheesy 'message from our partners' emails either. Anyway, snowHeads really is MUCH better when you're logged in - not least because you get to post your own messages complaining about things that annoy you like perhaps this banner which, incidentally, disappears when you log in :-)
Username:-
 Password:
Remember me:
👁 durr, I forgot...
Or: Register
(to be a proper snow-head, all official-like!)

Wife complains of sore lower shins

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
I have looked at all thr threads on here and looked on net for a while and come up with zero. Here is the story... my wife (39yo, 56KG) and I went to the snow for the first time and skied. Well I loved it and the hook is well and truely in my mouth. She lasted about 10 minutes and could not go on as the pain in lower shin was too much to bear. anyway when we got back home we took her to a professional ski boot place and after 2 hours of boot fitting we found a boot that started to give her pain after about 30 minutes.
We have been going to a physio for about 3 months and nothing is changing.
She can walk around with no pain... if she starts running th epain starts almost straight away.... when she stops the pain stops. The Physio massages both sides of the shin bone and this is extremelly painful for her.... she says that the 'pressure' on the lower shin starts the pain (well in ski boot fitting anyway). Does anyone out there have any suggestions on what I can do to help her...as we have a snow trip planned next year and it would be a shame for her to miss out and stay home........ ummmm.... maybe no-one should reply Laughing

Any info would be great...

Cheers
Dave
snow report
 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
May be over simplifying but it sounds like she may be putting her weight too far forward in the boot. When learning I used to lean forward far too much - rather than spreading my weight over the whole foot - and my shins would really hurt.
snow conditions
 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
... there'll be an expert along in a mo to explain that a bit better! And welcome to snowHead s
ski holidays
 You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
timeout, does she run frequently? Was the problem initially caused by ski boots (is that when she first noticed it), or exacerbated by ski boots? Has the physio given a diagnosis?

Sounds like shin splints maybe? I've had friends get them from skiing - normally when doing freestyle and repeatedly hitting the front of the boot on landing. Wouldn't be caused by 10 mins in ski boots though.

I'm no expert but I'm guessing the response would be do not try to learn to ski again until they are completely recovered. And then go to an expert (like CEM) and get boots properly fitted - although that's a significant outlay for a complete beginner.

Or she could try snowboarding? (more comfy boots)
snow report
 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
I'm no expert -first time on skies in March 2009 - my ski instructor advised me to get some foam padding from the Chemist - can't remember what they called it - it came in a long strip about half an inch deep and it certainly helped me - but my shins don't sound as painful.
Be Prepraed
snow conditions
 You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
How is her fore/aft alignment? Has the bootfitter seen her again since the first fitting?
ski holidays
 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
There's no substitute for a proper history & exam. The net is not a good doctor. Either the boots don't fit, her technique is poor, she has shin splints, etc etc.


Go see a doctor.
snow report
 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Taker her out and shoot her, Marry a young model with a chalet in St Anton, Chamonix... Problem sorted Twisted Evil
snow report
 You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
HEOHEOHEHOE.... think I might trade her in..... seriously ..... we have not been backto the boot fitter since... bu the Physio says its probably shin splint or 'Fasiitis' which seems to be another fancy name for shin splints... I went to a doctor and they told me to go to a Physio...fat load of good that was... I am not sure what to do or who to see next...
ski holidays
 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
timeout, If I read what you say correctly, it sounds like you need to fix the pain she gets from running before worrying about the ski boots, solving that may solve the skiing issue. It does sound like shin splits, perhaps reading this may give some more pointers to if it is/isn't shin splints?

But you need a proper diagnosis and treatment schedule.

Has the physio given her any exercise to do at home?
latest report
 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
timeout, was she literally only skiing for 10 mins? If so I think the shin splits must have been pre-existing. It's a very common running injury. Try having a look at runnersworld.co.uk in the injury section - loads on shin splints in there. And try to get referred to a physio who's a specialist in sports injuries.
ski holidays
 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
I had a case of shin splints which lasted about 6ish weeks during the last football season. From what I read, there was no definite proof caused the splints. I tried to ignore it for the first 2-3 weeks hoping it would get better, but it remained. After that, I used a heat pack whenever I could remember at home, and stretched my calf muscle especially prior to exercise which seemed to make it better. I think the heat is good for bringing blood and healing into the tightly bound tissue layer in the shin. Some people on the internet seemed to think it may be caused by not loosening the calf muscle, hence my extra stretches. Ibuprofen was effective for me for the big games.
snow report
 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
timeout, Be Prepared, Welcome to snowHeads both of you!
snow report
 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
beanie1 wrote:
timeout, ? It's a very common running injury. Try having a look at runnersworld.co.uk in the injury section.


And who said the 'net isn't useful? Beanie 1 and Streaky sound like they are spot on to me but get some professional,focussed, advice. Way, way, way back when I was running 6-10 miles/day I had agonising pain in my shins if I didn't warm up properly. The physio I was seeing for an unrelated knee/ankle injury told me to warm up properly by stretching out the muscles in the lower leg using an exercise which is basically sitting on your lower leg and leaning back. Cured me instantly but then again it hadn't developed into a serious problem.

Ask about stretching out the affected body part and get the correct posture etc from someone who knows what they are talking about.

Curing the symptom (ie the pain) won't be any good if the cause (incorrect or missing warm-up) goes untreated.

Good luck.
latest report
 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
A friend of mine in Val d'Isere started up this company http://www.shinshields.com after suffering from sore shins. It's often favored my freestylers who have a lot of impact on their shins. Could be worth a go?
latest report
 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
could be shin splints, you say this was your first time skiing, it could be that your wife was skiing very back seat and using the muscles around the shins to bring her forward and stabilise, the muscles here are too small be able to move a persons weight forward, thus they get over extended and sore. Id recommend some well fitting and soft flexing boots, a calf stretching routine and an instructor who can get her feeling for flexing at her ankles.
snow conditions
 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Its sounds like it might be shin splints or could be medically a more sever problem. rest and ice should sort it out and then get a pair of tight fitting boots. Might sound crazy, but will b less movement and it may help. Otherwise try an orthopadic boot specialist such as Colin from Superfeet or a company such as surefoot.
snow conditions
 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
IMHO this is a topic that can be served well by a boot fitter that does some on slope evaluation.
It could be a combination of boot fit and ski technique.
snow report
 You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
Sounds like an underlying biomechanical problem that is not just restricted to skiing. Seek professional advice from a qualified podiatrist. If money is a problem the try the nearest university podiatry department. They will often have student clinics where advice is free but you have to pay for any orthotics.
snow conditions
 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
rorie, Good luck to your friend - it's a common problem in general. Of course the freestylers could (and often do) get flexons! Laughing
snow conditions
 You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
I can sympathise - had a torrid time with shin splints, and once the area is sore its really easy to exacerbate. The fact that it goes away most of the time is a classic symptom - she might even find that if she carries on running it eases off a bit until you sit down again and then BAM!

Its a classic running injury commonly caused by biomechincal faults, commonly solved by a decent gait analysis and a pair of running shoes that match your gait - its not always necessary to get custom made orthotics, but these might help. Also not helped if she has weak ankles which is common in beginner runners as they are not used to the strain on your tendons. The advise I was given by the fizz was to either get a wobble board and build up your ankle strength on this, or even shut your eyes and stand on one foot - you need to be able to count to 25 at least before falling over. If the shins are sore - don't run/ski or anything else until they are clear and until then RICE - rest, ice, compression and elevation and ibuprofen if you don't mind taking tablets. So in essence, correct your stance properly, strengthen your ankles and shin tendons and be nice to them when they are sore! Then build up slowly - especially if she is running on hard road surfaces. It does sound like the ski boots are pushing her ankles/feet into a poor gait which on tender shins in tight ski boots could definitely kick them off again.

Good luck! Very Happy
ski holidays
 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
try earplugs? wink
snow report
 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Hi, as others have said before, sounds like she needs to get a medical condition sorted first of all. After that, is she still can't get on with ski boots, she could think about boarding. The boots are much more friendly to your feet & lower legs. I both ski & board and although I don't find ski boots as bad as some people, snowboard boots can stay on all day (and evening) without you ever thinking about them or wanting to take them off.
latest report
 You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Have you tried using Epitact? most of the better boot fitting shops in France stock it, else try a good sports shop or pharmacy. Its a gel-like pad for easing pain on pressure points (similar to compeed, blister-eze etc). You can get it as a 10cm square (15 euro in France, not cheap) which you can cut into two rectangles, one for each shin, or put one on each shin if you like. Its tacky rather than sticky, so its easy to reuse, and wont pull your hair off when you remove it at the end each day. One pad will easily last a week or two ski holiday.

http://www.epitact.com/no_cache/fr/produits/protection-tibiale-a-lepithelium-29/index.html?sword_list%5B%5D=tibiale
latest report



Terms and conditions  Privacy Policy