Best Shoes for Shin Splints
Updated on May 01, 2024
Shop the best shoes for shin splints
Do your shins hurt? You may be one of many people suffering from an extremely common overuse injury called shin splints. Pain from shin splints is usually felt in your lower legs, and that pain can be on the front, the outside, or the inside of your leg.
Shin splints are common among runners, dancers and other athletes in high-impact sports. Running, jumping and other motions put consistent stress on the shin bone, both directly from impacts and indirectly as your muscles and other connective tissues pull and tug on the bone. That stress can cause swelling and irritation that weaken the bone, and cause pain.
The pain from shin splints starts slowly and builds up over time. Fortunately, resting and icing the injury usually brings relief. Wearing supportive shoes can help you recover from shin splints more quickly. Even better, the right shoes can help guide you to a natural gait and reduce the force of impact–making you less likely to suffer from shin splints in the future.
What are Shin Splints?
Shin splints are the common term for medial tibial stress syndrome. Medial refers to the middle, and the tibia is your shin bone. Shin splints, then, involve repeated stress on the middle of your shin bone that ultimately leads to inflammation and pain.
Whenever you walk, run or jump you are applying force to your shin bone. On top of that, you’re also stretching the muscles, tendons and ligaments in your legs. Some of these connective tissues attach to your shin bone and can tug and pull on the bone as you move. These stressors are normal, but when you overdo things physically that regular stress can start to add up. Repeated stress without enough rest causes inflammation, which leads to pain and stiffness.
Shin splints are considered an overuse injury, meaning that they develop over time rather than in response to a single accident or trauma. The more active you are, especially if you ramp up your level of activity suddenly, the more stress you put on the bone and the more likely you are to get shin splints. That’s why shin splints are common among dancers, runners and other athletes.
Fortunately, there are exercises you can do to alleviate the pain, such as the seated towel stretch demonstrated in the video below.
Most Commons Causes & Risk Factors
Facts and Stats
- Shin splints is the common term for medial tibial stress syndrome
- Flat feet that cause excessive over pronation can double your risk of shin splints
- About 1 in 5 aerobic dancers will suffer from shin splints at some point
Treatment
Shin splints are a very common injury so it’s easy to find yourself falling victim to these aches and pains! Fortunately, treating shin splints is generally easy as well. Many at-home treatments are effective against shin splints, but you may want to see a doctor or gait specialist about any underlying causes if the pain persists or returns frequently.
Here are some options for treating shin splints:
FAQs
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What are the best running shoes for shin splints?
Shin splints are a common problem for runners, so you may be on the hunt for the best women’s or men’s running shoes for shin splints. Good running shoes for shin splints will feature the right balance of cushion and support to protect your shins from impact and reduce the strain on muscles and tendons as you move. If you have flat feet, high arches, or differences in leg lengths you’ll also want a shoe that helps balance out those differences for a more natural gait.
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Why do my shoes give me shin splints?
Shin splints can be very closely related to the kind of shoes you wear. Shock, stress and impact all contribute to this painful condition, so the best type of running shoes for shin splints are those that cushion each step. Shoes that lack cushion, or have too much cushion and not enough firm support, make your body take the full force of each step or jump. If your shoes are worn out, or have uneven wear patterns, you may be putting extra stress on certain parts of your body. Or your body may be doing extra work to compensate for the changes to how you move. Either way, the result is extra stress on your shin and a greater risk of shin splints.
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Will shoe inserts help shin splints?
Preventing or recovering from shin splints is all about protecting your body. Adding cushion and shock absorption can help reduce the load on your shin bone. If you have flat feet, high arches, pronation problems, or other health conditions that alter your gait then extra support customized for that issue can also be important. That’s why we build ULTIMATE INSOLES into every pair of KURU shoes, so you can get the support you deserve without making an extra purchase.
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Are KURUs orthopedic shoes?
While KURU shoes are not currently considered orthopedic by a medical standard, we have received thousands of positive reviews from customers who say their KURUs helped reduce or eliminate their pain—from plantar fasciitis to flat feet.
In fact, many of our customers find that after switching to KURU they can leave their clunky inserts or unsightly orthopedic footwear behind for a more stylish option with just as much—if not more—comfort!
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Three Layers of Support
At KURU, we pride ourselves on our unique approach to shoe design. We believe that shoes should be shaped to fit the natural contours of your feet, which is why we create every pair in three distinct support layers, not just an insole.
Our revolutionary ergonomic design starts with a curved footbed and adds unparalleled triple-layer support that includes shock-absorbing KURUCLOUD, heel-cupping KURUSOLE, and arch-supporting ULTIMATE INSOLES. The result? Shoes that are so comfortable you’ll stop thinking about your feet.
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KURUSOLE
...Show LessYour heel has a natural pillow of fat underneath it: a built-in cushion to protect you from impact. As we get older, wear and tear on this fat pad causes it to stretch and wear out. Enter our patented KURUSOLE. More than just a deep heel cup with plenty of cushion, it contains your fat pad to maximize your natural cushioning and protect you from foot pain.
Your heel has a natural pillow of fat underneath it: a built-in cushion to protect you from impact. As we get older, wear and tear on this fat pad causes it to stretch and wear out. Enter our patented KURUSOLE. More than just a deep heel cup with plenty of cushion, it contains your fat pad to maximize your natural cushioning and protect you from foot pain.
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KURUCLOUD
...Show LessThe midsole is the part of the shoe most responsible for cushion and shock absorption, both of which are crucial in protecting you from shin splints. We use an advanced blend of EVA foams in KURUCLOUD to cushion and support you while absorbing shock. We also made it light, so you can enjoy all-day comfort without your shoes weighing you down.
The midsole is the part of the shoe most responsible for cushion and shock absorption, both of which are crucial in protecting you from shin splints. We use an advanced blend of EVA foams in KURUCLOUD to cushion and support you while absorbing shock. We also made it light, so you can enjoy all-day comfort without your shoes weighing you down.
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ULTIMATE INSOLE
...Show LessIf you struggle with shin splints you may have turned to aftermarket inserts for some extra cushion and pain relief. But what if you could get the support you need right out of the box? ULTIMATE INSOLES come in every pair of KURUs. We use dual-density foam to strategically place support where your body needs it, and cushion where your problem spots need it.
If you struggle with shin splints you may have turned to aftermarket inserts for some extra cushion and pain relief. But what if you could get the support you need right out of the box? ULTIMATE INSOLES come in every pair of KURUs. We use dual-density foam to strategically place support where your body needs it, and cushion where your problem spots need it.
KURUSOLE
Your heel has a natural pillow of fat underneath it: a built-in cushion to protect you from impact. As we get older, wear and tear on this fat pad causes it to stretch and wear out. Enter our patented KURUSOLE. More than just a deep heel cup with plenty of cushion, it contains your fat pad to maximize your natural cushioning and protect you from foot pain.
Our Secret
Our Secret
What makes KURU different? Every KURU shoe comes with built-in patented KURUSOLE tech—a foot health game changer.
While other shoes are flat on the inside, KURUSOLE is shaped like your foot to hug and prevent fatigue and pain.
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