There are several stretches for shin splints that can be performed, that may be able to both treat and prevent this painful experience. If you are in good enough health to participate in these stretches, you should be able to reduce the amount of tension felt in your feet, and increase the possibilities of recovering quickly.

As with any type of exercise, you will need to warm up appropriately. One type of stretch that you may enjoy is called the Standing Anterior Tibialis Shin Splints Stretch. This is performed with the use of some type of handrail to provide adequate balance. Standing upright, place the foot that is to be stretched immediately to the rear of the other foot. The big toe of the foot that you are stretching should remain on the ground during the exercise. With bent knees, pull the leg that you are stretching forward. The muscles that stretch will probably let you know when you have gone far enough.

Another exercise that could be fun is simply to walk across a flat surface. While walking, you stay on your "tippy toes" as far as you can. Although there may not be a fancy name for this exercise, many people will refer to it simply as "the tippy toe exercise". It is thought to help by tensing one set of muscles in order to fully relax the corresponding muscles.

A third movement you can try is to stand near to a wall. With a straight leg, lean forward and place the balls of your feet against it. It is possible to do this either one foot at a time, or both at the same time, particularly if you face away from the wall. Maintaining your balance is vital here, since further injury could occur if you fall. If you choose to practice using both feet, the use of a chair would be most helpful at this time.

A final possibility is the Sitting Shin Splints Stretch. It can be performed as either an initial stretch, or as a final stretch. While sitting in a chair, place both feet as far back behind as possible. Ideally, this will target the muscles that are injured and encourage healing. These stretches for shin splints should be reasonably comfortable. If anyone performing these common stretches feels actual pain during them, he or she should cease the activity immediately. If you are not sure that what you are experiencing is shin splints, please consult a medical professional to confirm your diagnosis.