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Been training pretty hard lately (muay Thai kickboxing). I don't get much DOMS but I do get plenty of shin splints & slight bone bruises. Usually on my knuckles, knee, forearm, & elbows. I do mobility, foam rolls & stretch before & after training.

I want to utilize my gyms shower to aid in my PWO recovery. Obviously contrast showers are in. I have a half container of DR Bonner's liquid soap. What do you think I should add (topical gel,herbs flakes, etc..)? So if any of you Holistic Hackers have suggestions, opinions, experience, or even a joke with a confusing punchline. I'm all ears.

UPDATE

I'm thinking of adding Magnesium Chloride flakes because it seems like every Google search is telling me Magnesium Chloride is > Epsom salt. The flakes would be cheaper compared to the oil.

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In for learning. I'm really curious about this one. – Potato Avenger Jun 14 at 23:36
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One thing I'd try for the shin splints is vitamin C and gelatin for collagen repair in the tendon. – Mscott Jun 15 at 0:40
Potato Avenger- Awesome name! Mscott- I'm not into consuming isolated vitamins but I'll definitely research into vit C for shin splint. I'm hoping you are referring to real gelatin not the boxed. – Acumen Athletics Jun 15 at 1:13
Yeah something like oranges and bone broth as sources. I'm not into isolates nutrients much either. – Mscott Jun 15 at 1:44
boxed gelatin is real, if it's great lakes bovine source. – dsohei Jun 15 at 2:41
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I would advise myofascial release. No magnesium or supplement can help if the muscle is dysfunctional. Do you have a foam roller? Even tennis balls work. There are some really "deep" (anatomically speaking) muscle fibers that can cause issues. I used to suffer shin splints. No nutritional plan truly helped combat it until I started doing a lot of Active Release Techniques (ART) and started re-activating prime movers.

The issue is, there could be potentially 100 (small) reasons for your degree of suffering of them. Weak Achilles tendon, unequal ratio strength between tibialis anterior and your calve muscles. Etc.. All due to your large volume and diversity of exercise. Example: I do the squat test and glute test with my athletes to see what's function/dysfunction and needs to be correected. One of the largest issues I see is dysfunction glutes/hamstrings and dominant quads. Once I corrected this with functional exercises, ART, and stretching, a lot of major pains go away (including shin splints.)

The body works in synergy. Your heal is literally connected to your shoulders in some way. Once one muscle starts to shut down or have issues, it means more taxing on the rest of your body and muscle groups.

Here are a couple minor techniques you can do to try and release your TA and calves: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWioS5N5FS4 http://bodythrive.wordpress.com/2012/02/08/using-myofascial-release-to-treat-prevent-plantar-fasciitis-and-shin-splints/ http://healthonabudget.com/self-myofascial-release-with-tennis-ball-to-release-muscle-tension/

If none of the above listed work, then it must be something more superior (Glutes/Hammies/Lower back/etc)

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Thanks for your answer & link. In my question I already posted how I do mobility & foam rolling. Which I agree with what you posted. Looking for something I can add around my showers. – Acumen Athletics Jun 18 at 22:27

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