That's Fit

Have you ever had shin splints? If so, you know just what a pain they can be. Luckily, there are steps you can take to avoid getting shin splints.

My son is very athletically inclined. He does well at every team sport he plays and he invariably picks active play over anything else. He's constantly riding his bike, roller-blading, or running around the neighborhood. So, needless to say, my son is in good shape. But lately, he's been complaining that his legs feel "weak."

I didn't know what was going on at first. In fact, I thought maybe his baseball practices were wearing him out. So I had suggested he start jogging to build up his leg muscles. But then I noticed that his eating habits have changed a bit and his sleep patterns are a bit off-kilter, too. So it finally hit me. Growing pains.

I'll admit that it took me longer to catch on than it should have. But I'm new to this parenting gig. My 10-year-old son is adopted and has only lived with me since last June. So, though he's likely experienced growing pains several times now, this is my first experience with them as a parent.

Icy Hot products got a little too hot for some consumers, who suffered first, second, and even third degree burns after using the Icy Hot Heat Therapy patch. The self-heating patch is meant to be used on sore muscles and joints. When customers complained, Icy Hot recalled its Icy Hot Heat Therapy Air Activated Heat for back and for arms, legs, and neck.

The company says that many of the injuries have come from misuse. They warn that the product shouldn't be used while sleeping and that some customers, especially those over 55 or with sensitive skin, may want to use the product over top of their clothing. But they're going to recall and test the product to be sure that there isn't something else going on.

If you own one of these products, you can get a refund by calling 1-877-742-6275.

While some sore muscles are to be expected when exercising -- especially if you're doing something new or more strenuous than usual -- you shouldn't ignore pain and swelling during or after exercise, especially if it persists or worsens. While it's uncommon, there is a neuromuscular condition called chronic exertional compartment syndrome. In this condition, repetitive activity in a muscle area (or compartment) swells and inhibits blood supply to the muscles. If left undiagnosed, the exacerbated condition can cause potentially permanent injury to nerves and muscles.

Symptoms of the condition are pain and swelling during exercise. Initially the symptoms subside with rest, but as the condition worsens the pain and swelling take longer to go away. Other symptoms include aching, pressure, numbness, and muscle weakness. Arms and legs are most commonly effected. Because it often goes undiagnosed, accurate numbers of cases are unknown. The condition primarily affects young athletes.

There's no need to overreact to mild muscle pain while exercising. Chronic exertional compartment syndrome is uncommon, after all. But if you notice a pattern with pain and swelling and if your symptoms worsen with time, visit your doctor. It's better to be safe than sorry.

As I described at length in a post on our partner blog, ParentDish, my parenting exploits have left me in a little pain these last few days. Apparently this is pretty common, as nearly 80 percent of Americans suffer back pain at some point in their lives. While this may come as no surprise, I was interested to learn that most soreness or spasms are triggered by seemingly innocuous, everyday activities.

Here's five simple, straightforward tips to help rid yourself of that discomfort.

1. Good posture is important, but you don't need to stand like a soldier -- this actually puts pressure on the spine instead of relieving it. Instead focus on being relaxed, and balanced.
2. Get corrective insoles to make sure your foot has the proper arch while walking.
3. Once you've achieved proper posture, talk a walk -- studies show this can relieve back pain.
4. Switch shoulders for your backpack, bag, etc -- even if it feels weird.
5. Take more breaks -- especially if you have a job that keeps you seated all day. Doctors recommend getting up and moving around every 45 to 60 minutes to prevent strain.

For more explanation, check out Alicia Porter's helpful article on Health.com.