Why does my Soleus muscle hurt when I run?
The soleus muscle is not on your shin: it’s the broad, flat, muscle that underlies the more prominent gastrocnemius muscle (which comprises the main bulk of the calf). If it is truly your shin that hurts (particularly if it’s a ‘pins and needles’ type pain), then the overwhelming probability is shin splints. This happens at the front of the shin when there is microtrauma to the sheath surrounding the tibia (shin bone), and is due to insufficient warm up and, more commonly, badly-fitting shoes. Before you run, make sure you’ve started with an increasingly fast walk, to get your legs limbered up. If you do a lot of running, it’s well worth visiting a specialist running shop, where your gait can be analysed, and appropriate shoes bought. Many people overpronate (that is, their foot rolls inwards more than usual on each stride) and the correct shoes are important in preventing both shin splints and other problems. It may also help to try running on grass rather than hard surfaces.
