jackhoffman wrote:
It also feels great when I have shin pain.
If you're having shin pain, it's most likely the result of your shoes. The cushier and thicker the midsole, the more unstable you are on your feet and the more you'll pronate. Running barefoot or in shoes with less midsole results in less pronation and less tender spots. Read this (From Lore of Running):
"It seems that runners alter their gaits and muscle activation patterns (Komi et al., 1987) when running in harder shoes or when running barefoot. Thus, the degree of pronation is reduced when one runs barefoot (Frederick, 1986; L.S. Smith et al., 1986), a reduction due to changes in running patterns....
One way to check whether you may be injury prone is to try the "pinch test." The pinch test is effective because damaged tissues become tender to the touch long before they actually cause pain during or after running. A feeling of tenderness or discomfort when the Achilles tendon is pinched between the thumb and forefinger or when firm pressure is applied along the borders of the shinbone (the tibia) or the kneecap indicates trouble. If allowed to go unchecked, this symptom may lead to a debilitating injury.
Tenderness in any of these areas indicates, among other things, that the foot is being allowed to pronate excessively and that the shoe that a shoes that restricts ankle pronation should be worn."