I recently returned to work from 3 months of maternity leave. As a nursing assistant I was on my feet for 8 hours and after work my shins hurt so bad! I had no clue what I did. I called a weight trainer I know and she said that sometimes it can be from tight calf muscles which connect to the bone in the front (sorry if the explanation is wrong, i don't remember her specifics) When they are tight and stiff, such as after a work out they actually pull on the bone and inflame the tissue where the muscle connects to the shin bone, which is why it hurts so much and why stretching would help that. She said just to ice it to bring down the swelling and keep the pain away. After a day or two my body got used to the routine and it doens't happen anymore, but it does hurt for awhile!!! OUCH!