#264 Answering the Most Common Questions about Shin Splits with Dr. Doug Adams

Shin splints (or medial tibial stress syndrome) are the bane of many a runner, proving hard to find a cause for and hard to treat. Nate is joined by Dr. Doug Adams to demystify this frustrating ailment. Nate & Doug break down the physiology of shin splints and its most common causes. They offer strategies to both prevent and rehab from shin splints, and offer insights on how your footwear might be affecting your shin pain. Dr. Doug Adams is a Physical Therapist who has published and spoken at an international level on all things related to running. Doug has taught thousands of professionals his systematic approach to providing personalized plans for runners through the Certified Running Gait Analyst and Endurance Running Coaching courses. He also designed and created a portable 3D Motion Analysis system called Helix 3D for analyzing and categorizing running form that is used widely throughout the Department of Defense and commercial sectors. You can find him on Instagram at @RunDNASystem and @DougAdamsPT.Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/Get 20% off your first order from Skratch with code: DOCTORSOFRUNNING!Chapters0:00 - Intro4:34 - Defining the term "shin splints"7:04 - Can I run through shin splints?12:10 - How do I get to race day healthy if I'm experiencing shin splints?15:24 - What can I do to prevent shin splints?25:56 - How to tell whether it's shin splints or a stress fracture30:30 - What causes shin splints?35:26 - The role of gait retraining48:42 - How to manage training load wisely54:36 - Do shoes cause shin splints? Will better shoes fix it?1:02:56 - Wrap-up

Time to check the mail! We love answering listener questions and on this round, it's all about shoes. Nathan, David, and Matt talk about the best shoes for Haglunds, fun stable-neutral options, shoes to help with easily-rolled ankles, and more. Want your question on the next mailbag episode? Email us at [email protected]!Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/Get 20% off your first order from Skratch with code: DOCTORSOFRUNNING!LEVER Movement⁠ is portable and effective body weight support systems. Our products, including the LEVER System that allow users to reduce their effective body weight during exercise ( from 0 to 45 pounds off). This reduction is achieved through our bungee system that redistribute a portion of the user’s body weight, making exercises less strenuous and more manageable. LEVER Movement is committed to revolutionizing the way you train and recover, providing you with the tools to achieve your fitness goals with greater confidence and reduced risk.Chapters0:00 - Intro2:05 - In for Testing: Powered by Skratch Labs15:12 - Fun alternatives to the Supernova Solution25:56 - Matt's current favorite shoes for Haglund's deformity32:14 - How to explain rockered shoes to the general population39:00 - Shoes similar to the Brooks ST 546:34 - Shoes to help guard against easily-rolled ankles55:06 - Replacements for the ASICS Glideride 31:02:22 - Wrap-up

As physical therapists, we get to see a lot of runners stuck in frustrating situations. Andrea, Matt, and David draw on their years of experience to discuss the most common mistakes they see runners make, some leading to injury and some not. They talk about the risks of over-training, playing the comparison game, idolizing achievements, and more. We'd love to hear from you! What are some of the mistakes you've made in your training or running career? Drop a comment or email us at [email protected] your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/Get 20% off your first order from Skratch with code: DOCTORSOFRUNNING!LEVER Movement⁠ is portable and effective body weight support systems. Our products, including the LEVER System that allow users to reduce their effective body weight during exercise ( from 0 to 45 pounds off). This reduction is achieved through our bungee system that redistribute a portion of the user’s body weight, making exercises less strenuous and more manageable. LEVER Movement is committed to revolutionizing the way you train and recover, providing you with the tools to achieve your fitness goals with greater confidence and reduced risk.Chapters0:00 - Intro3:18 - In for Testing: Powered by Skratch Labs14:39 - The biggest mistakes we see runners make15:46 - Not running easy runs easy enough19:20 - Over-estimating your abilities22:22 - Doing too much too soon25:16 - Not accounting for outside-of-running variables29:58 - Not adapting training to life stressors33:42 - Basing self-esteem on athletic performance39:26 - Not having a good healthcare practitioner43:50 - Chasing medals & achievements52:14 - Top shoe mistakes1:02:18 - Wrap-up

Over the past few years, On has become one of the most popular running shoe and apparel brands, both in and outside of the running world. With recent offerings like the Cloudmonster, Cloudsurfer, and Cloudboom Strike, they've proven they can make competitive and impressive shoes. They don't have the most clear-cut of lineups like lots of other brands so, Nathan, David, and Matt get together to break down On's shoes. They talk about On's foams, the function of the "clouds" (pods), their favorite On shoes, and more.Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/Get 20% off your first order from Skratch with code: DOCTORSOFRUNNING!LEVER Movement is portable and effective body weight support systems. Our products, including the LEVER System that allow users to reduce their effective body weight during exercise ( from 0 to 45 pounds off). This reduction is achieved through our bungee system that redistribute a portion of the user’s body weight, making exercises less strenuous and more manageable. LEVER Movement is committed to revolutionizing the way you train and recover, providing you with the tools to achieve your fitness goals with greater confidence and reduced risk.Chapters0:00 - Intro2:10 - In for Testing: Powered by Skratch Labs14:38 - A background of On Running18:58 - How legitimate was the original idea of the pods?23:07 - How durable are the clouds?32:52 - Breaking down On's foam lineup38:36 - Categorizing On's shoes50:24 - If you could recommend one On shoe, which would it be?56:04 - Do rocks ever get stuck in the pods?59:16 - Wrap-up

Age comes for us all, no matter how active we are, but that doesn't mean it has to slow us down! Matt & David get together to discuss how aging affects running and how to adapt. They share stories from their journeys & life changes, insights from Matt's research & other studies, and share strategies to adapt your training as you age. Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/Get 20% off your first order from Skratch with code: DOCTORSOFRUNNING!Chapters0:00 - Intro2:39 - In for Testing: Powered by Skratch Labs12:23 - Adapting to aging & life changes23:10 - Physiological changes as we age28:58 - Adjusting your training43:25 - The role of strength-training & cross-training55:37 - Wrap-up

It's time for another mailbag round, where we answer your questions! Matt, David, and Nathan get together to discuss shoes, injury risk, running form and more. How stable is the Asics Megablast? Is heel-striking as bad as the influencers make it out to be? How does heel-to-toe drop effect knee pain? Listen in for this and more. Want your question answered in the next mailbag? Email us at [email protected] your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/Get 20% off your first order from Skratch with code: DOCTORSOFRUNNING!Chapters0:00 - Intro1:06 - In for Testing: Powered by Skratch Labs12:52 - How do brands decide the stack height of shoes?19:18 - Is the Megablast neutral or stable neutral?27:58 - How does heel drop potentially effect the knees?32:54 - Saucony stability recommendations41:22 - Is heel striking really bad?53:34 - Wrap-up

Andrea Myers and Megan Flynn host two very special guests, Selene Yeager and Jennifer O’Donnell-Giles MS RD CSSD. They discuss a broad range of topics surrounding women's health & training–nutrition, hydration, the menstrual cycle, strength training, and more.Jennifer O’Donnell-Giles MS RD CSSD, a registered dietitian/nutritionist, is a board certified specialist in sports dietetics. The mission of her private practice for the past 24 years is to educate, motivate and inspire athletes to use food as a tool to become the fastest, strongest and best athlete they can be. Learn more about Jennifer at her website: ⁠https://www.jenngilesrd.com⁠Selene Yeager is a certified personal trainer, USA Cycling certified coach, pro mountain bike racer, and All-American Ironman triathlete. She's also a top-selling professional health and fitness writer and has authored, co-authored, and contributed to more than two dozen book titles. Check out Selene's website at ⁠www.seleneyeager.com⁠Chapters0:00 - Intro3:14 - General macronutrient needs for endurance athletes6:58 - Specific risks for women while training fasted12:20 - Recommendations for protein supplements16:58 - Nutritional strategies for maintaining bone health22:56 - The connection between the menstrual cycle, health & training28:22 - Hydrating well before, during, and after exercise37:56 - Artificial sweeteners and gut health41:05 - Preworkout hydration drinks43:18 - Strength training for women46:51 - Balancing aerobic & anaerobic training48:44 - Recovering well: nutrition, ice baths, and more1:03:08 - Improving sleep quality1:09:50 - Wrap-up

With a feat as monumental as the marathon, it can be yet another stressor to figure out the "right" shoe for your race. Matt & David are here to try to help you figure out the best shoe for you when it comes to 26.2. Do you need a super shoe? What about "super trainers"? How does stability factor into it? They answer these questions and more as they guide you through the shoe choices for runners of all abilities & paces.Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.comGet 20% off your first order from Skratch with code: DOCTORSOFRUNNING!Chapters0:00 - Intro0:56 - In for Testing: Powered by Skratch Labs8:22 - Fundamentals of marathon shoes22:06 - David's pick for a marathon right now27:26 - Matt's marathon picks32:38 - Picks for the 4+hr marathon49:55 - Picks for a sub-3 marathon1:00:30 - Wrap-up

It's time for the gang to put themselves on the hot seat yet again with a round of "This or That?". ASICS new Megablast or Superblast? What about the Sonicblast vs. the Novablast? They argue about annual shoe updates, durability, treadmill running and much more. Want to have your topic on the next This or That? Email us at [email protected]!Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/Get 20% off your first order from Skratch with code: DOCTORSOFRUNNING!Race day is the ultimate test of your training, and a solid plan can set you up for success. Stryd’s Race Power Calculator eliminates the uncertainty by analyzing the course, weather, and your personal capability to create a custom power target. This lets you pace with precision—conquering hills, battling headwinds, or enduring heat without overdoing it. No more fading late or finishing with regrets—just a race executed to perfection. With Stryd, you’re strategizing for your best performance. Ready to own race day? Visit ⁦stryd.com⁩ and see how Stryd powers your plan to the finish line.Chapters0:00 - Intro1:42 - In For Testing: Powered by Skratch Labs14:56 - This or That: Racing in a over or under 40mm stack shoe18:32 - Long run workout in a super racing shoe or super trainer?23:02 - Hot & humid run or treadmill run29:10 - A racing shoe that lasts 250mi or the fastest shoe that only lasts 100mi35:00 - Annual or biannual shoe updates44:28 - Megablast or Superblast50:26 - Sonicblast or Novablast56:30 - The next 5 years with Brooks or with Hoka1:07:34 - Wrap-up

Nathan and David team up to talk all things racing! They rank their favorite distances to race and what shoes they'd race them in. Also, with the elite track circuit in full-swing, they talk about their favorite races to watch. Finally, they wrap it up with a couple questions from our mailbag. What are your favorite races to run? Have any questions to add to our mailbag? Email us at [email protected]! Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/Get 20% off your first order from Skratch with code: DOCTORSOFRUNNING!Stryd’s Race Power Calculator eliminates the uncertainty of race day by analyzing the course, weather, and your personal capability to create a custom power target. This lets you pace with precision—conquering hills, battling headwinds, or enduring heat without overdoing it. With Stryd, you’re strategizing for your best performance. Ready to own race day? Visit ⁦stryd.com⁩ today.Chapters0:00 - Intro 3:36 - In for Testing: Powered by Skratch Labs 13:14 - Third favorite race distance 21:50 - Second favorite distance 30:12 - Favorite race distance 38:18 - Favorite races to watch 43:12 - What even is a supertrainer? 49:42 - Faster shoes for stability needs 52:54 - Wrap-up