My 14 yr old female runs track and field and cross country...over the past 2 years her feet and legs hurt more and more. i took her an orthopedic and he told her to wear inserts when she runs and put her on an antiinflamtory, she is really flat footed and

More : More than likely this pain is related to her flat feet. When the foot is very flat footed the muscle and tendon on the inside of the leg and ankle (the posterior tibialis) must work exceptionally hard to support the foot. So hard that it gets overused, inflamed and painful. If this is the case (and as always, you can only get a diagnosis by seeing a doctor) then the goal of treatment is to take tension off of the tendon. You do this by wearing supportive shoes and using orthotics. Although most people do fine with prefabricated orthotics, flat footed patients usually find that these do not provide adequate support. That flat foot simply needs a lot more support and usually requires a custom orthotic with a very specific design. I've written a fairly long article explaining how orthotics for flat feet should be made to provide the best outcomes. That is on my website and a link to that article is below. I've also included a link that explains posterior tibial tendonitis in more detail. You need to find a podiatrist with a special interest in orthotic therapy and sports medicine. The reality is that some podiatrists are experts in orthotic therapy and some are not.

Shin splints: Inserts are a good idea as well as anti-inflammatories. However the BEST treatment is rest! If she continues tonjave issues get her checked out and have her stop running as she may develop a stress fracture. Also if you can find a good therapist she can get a running evaluation to see if her running mechanics are normal. Look for a running shoe store (not footlocker etc) that can help her