What causes leg pain and how to care for it
Ryan Hudson, MD, talks about how he helps patients.
Polyclinic sports medicine doctor Dr. Ryan Hudson spoke to Shannon O'Kelley, president of IRG Physical and Hand Therapy, on KOMO News Radio's Health Talk. They discussed leg pain, the difference between shin splints and stress fractures and how to care for them.
"The typical person that gets shin splints are deconditioned or have a big change in their physical training," said Dr. Hudson. "Perhaps they were more sedentary and now exercise more often, changed their shoe wear or are exercising on different terrain."
Dr. Hudson also shared ways to care for shin splints, including:
- Rest your body or reduce training by about 50% if your symptoms aren’t serious. Next, add to your training time slowly by 10% over time.
- Stretch and strengthen your foot and ankle muscles through physical therapy.
- Improve your gait mechanics (how you move your body) when you run.
- Find the right insoles for your running shoes.
- Get injections (shots) for more serious shin splints. Keep in mind, injections aren’t usually needed.
To learn more about Dr. Hudson, visit his webpage or call 1-206-860-5584 to schedule an appointment.
The information provided is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for professional health care. You should consult an appropriate health care professional for your specific needs.