shin splints and flat feet

[Plastic Brick]

Does anyone else have the following problem?

You have small feet that are flat (meaning that regardless of arch height, they are flat when weight is on them). When you walk for a while your feet start hurting. You tie your shoes tighter which makes your feet feel better but then you get shin splints.

You have to walk up a mountain every night.

Whether or not you meet these criteria, what is to be done about it?

I have size 6-1/2 feet, and haven't found hardly any shoes that fit, so every pair I get is too big- maybe size 8. I get shin splints every night while walking up a hill, and am moderately overweight for my height.

Would losing some weight solve most of these problems, or do shin splints need special treatment anyway?

[Alpine_Sapper]

Does anyone else have the following problem?

You have small feet that are flat (meaning that regardless of arch height, they are flat when weight is on them). When you walk for a while your feet start hurting. You tie your shoes tighter which makes your feet feel better but then you get shin splints.

You have to walk up a mountain every night.

Whether or not you meet these criteria, what is to be done about it?

I have size 6-1/2 feet, and haven't found hardly any shoes that fit, so every pair I get is too big- maybe size 8. I get shin splints every night while walking up a hill, and am moderately overweight for my height.

Would losing some weight solve most of these problems, or do shin splints need special treatment anyway?

There's not really anything you can do about shin splints. I have flat feet, (so flat I had to get a waiver to join the service) but they don't hurt me like that. The only thing I can suggest to you to help aleviate you issue is drop a couple pounds and keep 800mg's of Ibuprofen (ranger candies, YAY!) on hand to help with pain/inflamation.

[gryffynklm]

I have had foot and lower leg problems on and off in the past. I finally came to the conclusion that I have a tendency to wear shoes to a point that they are causing stress on my body. Uneven wear on the heal and the compression of the insole were the main culprits. I replace or resole shoes and use Sorbothane insoles. It has taken care of my foot and lower leg issues. I don't know if these factors are contributing to your discomfort, I just thought I would toss that out there.

Sorbathane

[crashdive123]

Good quality footwear and corrective inserts could probably help. Losing some weight can never hurt either. I would recommend seeing a podiatrist as well.

[Rick]

What they said. Proper fitting shoes and good quality inserts.

I like my boots tight as well. However, you have to remember that feet swell when you are walking so after about 15 minutes I retie my boots to accommodate for the swelling. It's just natural and how they work. Also, the way you tie your boots can also impact your feet. Tie them differently if you are walking predominantly uphill or predominantly downhill. Since you are walking up a mountain every night I assume you have to walk down it too. Here's an article are the proper way to lace your boots.

http://www.hitthetrail.com/boot_lacing.php