Why Your Shin Splints Keep Coming Back (and What’s Really Causing Them)

Episode 41 of the Past Your Prime podcast, hosted by Craig Smith - Pain Expert; Alex Keicher - Athlete; Smith Performance Center, titled "Why Your Shin Splints Keep Coming Back (and What’s Really Causing Them)" was published on October 12, 2025 and runs 29 minutes.

October 12, 2025 ·29m · Past Your Prime

Summary

Most people think shin splints are just part of running. But “shin splints” isn’t a diagnosis—it’s a location.In this episode, Craig and Alex break down what’s really happening when your shins hurt, why rest rarely fixes it, and how to rebuild the ability to absorb force.They cover:• The two main causes—medial tibial stress syndrome and posterior tibialis overload• Why “overpronation” isn’t the problem (it’s pronating too fast)• How force absorption errors lead to recurring pain• The role of taping, bracing, and load management• When to use tools like orthotics—and when they become crutches• How to actually fix the root cause and get back to running pain-freeIf you’ve dealt with shin splints that never seem to go away, this episode will finally make sense of why.____________________________________________Welcome to Past Your Prime – the podcast for active adults balancing training, rehab, family, and real life.Each episode, hosts Craig Smith and Alex Keicher dive into real-world strategies for overcoming injuries, staying strong, and living pain-free—even when life gets chaotic.💡 Learn more, access resources, and join our community:👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pastyourprime.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram:📲 Alex – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@spikerkeicher⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📲 Craig – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@craigsmithPT⁠

Episode Description