Bio Anatomy: Shin Splints
Tibialis Anterior and/or Tibialis Posterior tendonitis or “shin splints” generally refers to pain anywhere along the shinbone (tibia) between the knee and the ankle. It occurs as an overuse injury with damage and inflammation of the tendons and muscles that run up the shin. Shin splints are commonly seen in runners and athletes.
Signs and symptoms may include pain along the front inside edge of your shin. You may also have pain on the inner back side of your leg. The area may be tender to the touch and in some cases can become red and swollen. You may be able to reproduce the pain of shin splints by pointing your foot and toes down, but it is mostly aggravated by activity and exercise. Your doctor may consider an x-ray to rule out stress fractures and other conditions.
One cause of shin splints is overuse of the involved muscles. This can happen with an increase in exercise levels, repetitive movements as in running and other stresses to the lower leg such as hard or changing running surfaces.
Another major (and often overlooked) contributor to shin splints is over-pronation or arch flattening from
The New MyPlate – A Step In The Right Direction
As a registered dietitian and certified trainer, one of the most common questions I get is “What should I eat?” To me, that’s a clear indicator that people are getting mixed messages about nutrition, despite the plethora of information out there. Well, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s new MyPlate, which essentially replaces the food guide pyramid, is certainly a step in the right direction. After all, how do you translate colored slivers of a pyramid to actual food choices?
The MyPlate icon does have few shortcomings, in my opinion, but I’ll discuss that a bit later. First, let’s focus on the positive. I love the message to fill half your plate with fruits and veggies and I must say – I’ve been giving this advice for some time now. EVERYONE would benefit from doing that, and it’s NOT just because fruits and veggies are more nutritious. That’s a no-brainer. The fact of the matter is, IF you did this, you’d fill up on fewer calories and you’d stay full longer, which translates to easier weight control. And who doesn’t want that? Weight loss is hard enough. Another message the new icon sends is to eat balanced meals. That is, Read the rest of this entry
