Ask the Personal Trainer Joni Hyde is a Certified Personal Trainer and owner of WorkoutsForWomen.com Q. Whenever I go running I get shin splints. What can I do to prevent them or make the go away quicker? - Rebecca H. A. Shin splints are discomfort felt in the lower leg due to inflammation of either the tendons, muscles or bone covering. The pain usually worsens with exercise using the legs. This condition is usually due to an imbalance of the calf muscles and the shin muscles. Stop doing any exercises that hurt until you can resume the activity without pain. If you have this pain when walking do not try to run. Treat the painful area with ice massages 15 minutes 3 to 4 times a day and before workouts. Apply heat instead of ice when it starts to feel better. Of course prevention is the best option. Avoid walking, jogging or running on hard and uneven surfaces. Use soft surfaces such as dirt or grass for those activities. Warm up adequately before exercise. Keep your shins warm during exercise by wearing long socks and wear well-fitting shoes with good arch support during exercise. Complete cure usually requires rest and slow rehabilitation and may take 2 weeks to 2 months. Other recently asked questions: • My last delivery was by c-section. I just can’t seem to regain my lower stomach muscles, are there any exercises to target this area? • Is a slow jog enough to give me a cardio workout? • What kind of things can I do to get the most overall body workout in the pool? • Are there exercises which are safe during pregnancy? WorkoutsForWomen.com provides home exercise programs for today's busy women, under the guidance of a certified personal trainer.