Since November I’ve joined a gym and started working out with weights. The gym has raquet ball courts, which I used to play frequently. Some guys from work wanted to play Racquet Ball (RB) with me and also joined the gym.
We started playing RB and after a game, the front of my lower leg hurts. I stretch all the major leg muscles before and after the game, no bouncing, but that doesn’t seem to help. I’m a pretty big guy, around 280 pounds (no diving). Should I stop playing till I lose some weight?
I played on Monday and I can still feel a tinge of soreness.
What do you’all think and/or what more information do you need?
-Sandwriter
Although my doctorate is not in medicine, I have no problem making diagnoses and prescriptions for total strangers, even on line: Just a WAG - I’d try different shoes. I think shin splints usually come from pounding and stepping hard. I don’t think the condition is related to stretching. The only time I ever had them was years ago as a trampoline instructor, and I was bouncing a huge amount every day. I play racquetball, and don’t have the problem now. Of course, as you suggest, losing some weight will reduce the effect of the pounding that your legs are taking.
SandWriter , big guys like you and I tend to take big, lunging steps on the RB court. Leap, boom, leap, boom. That’s really hard on the shin muscles at the end of each step. Try taking shorter steps. When you’re waiting for a serve, stand with feet at shoulder width, a racket’s reach from the back wall, and bounce rapidly, either on both feet or l,r,l,r. You’ll get a faster launch, and remember to take short steps for more power. You won’t land so hard.
By the way, any YMCA will tell you that RB is more prone to injuries than anything else in the building. Do LOTS of stretching before and after playing. Always wear eye protection. Let’s be careful in there.
