By changes, I also mean even just starting a new training program. If you are new to running and start having pain on the front side of your shin, you should adapt your training accordingly.

If your training plan isn’t quite right for your current level of fitness then you might be running too far too soon for your abilities.

The same goes if you are not following a plan at all and just going out there and running. You should be tracking your runs and progressively building on the distances gradually.

Running quickly on undertrained legs is asking for trouble. Speedwork is usually for intermediate runners and this should also be planned gradually.

Take note of how you feel after your run on a particular route. I have a client who ran the route (for safety reasons) 3 times a week every week for months.

It turns out that her shin didn’t like the camber on the road. (we fixed that by getting her to run counterclockwise every other run).

Equally bad as the slanting camber, is running on sand. Sand makes running harder and strains your body, even more, so make sure it’s not the surface that is affecting your shins!

Running shoes make a huge difference. The support that your feet and all of the soft tissue structures in your lower leg get from proper shoes is worth the investment.

If you have flat feet this could mean that the load of your body weight going through your feet doesn’t follow the normal patterns and put stress on your shins.

If you are new to running and are overweight, you have to pay particular attention to how you train to avoid getting shin splints. Carrying extra weight will put pressure on your unconditioned legs leaving them vulnerable to getting injured.