Home› General Training Discussions

Nagging Hamstring Issues: Question about rest

David LeventhalDavid Leventhal
in General Training Discussions

I posted this up in the micro-forum for Patrick but I also figured I'd try to get some insight from some of you who have been doing this a lot longer than me.

Next week I'm going into week 10 of the HIM training.  The last six weeks I've been dealing with some nagging hamstring issues when I run.  I keep tweaking them - this week it was the left hammy (it's been the left twice & the right one time).  I'm getting ART, stretching the hip flexor and working to strengthen my glutes (which my ART guy says is the root issue of the hammy strains).  This is the third time this has happened in the last six weeks.  The cycle goes like this: During a run I tweak my hamstring.  I rest it for 7 to 10 days by not running (biking & swimming have felt fine to me).  I start running and within two weeks it happens again. Very frustrating.

I'm leaving on Sunday for a week long family vacation.  Prior to this latest episode my intent had been to continue my workouts while we were out of town.  But with this latest hammy strain I'm considering taking the entire week off and not doing anything - no running, no biking, no swimming.  Just to completely give my body a rest (I've been going hard for about 10 months straight with no real breaks).  But...I gotta be honest - the thought of doing no training for a week scares me a little bit.  I feel like from a fitness perspective I'm in a good position - I believe I could muscle out a HIM today if I had to (well...except that my left hamstring hurts!)...it'd be ugly but I think I could do it.

Thoughts on taking the week off altogether to rest?

- David

Comments

  • Scott AlexanderScott Alexander
    While I love ART, and chiro, and massage, and everything else that someone else does to hurt me that makes me better (have my last pre-IM tune-up next Monday), sounds like you need a full functional strength assessment, which those folks usually cannot do. Go to a qualified Physical Therapist. I've been going once/week this year, and my body is SO much better at hitting all my workouts and I recover much better.
    Rest never hurts, but sounds like you're going to keep getting injured if you don't get the root of the problem found.

    I didn't have any injuries to speak of, but it was more of a proactive move knowing I'm not getting any younger and I know I had weak hips and a slight short left leg.
  • David LeventhalDavid Leventhal
    Scott - you're in Dallas, right?  Who are you seeing?  I think you're suggestion might be a good next step for me. 
  • Scott AlexanderScott Alexander
    Yep, live in Dallas but work in Richardson.

    I am currently working with Stefani Wylie at TexStar PT, down near White Rock, 214-324-5851.
    Jake Spivey up at SportsCare & Rehab, up in Plano (Tollway and Windhaven) is also really good, 972-781-1111.
    My Chiro, Ron Tribendis (multi-Kona qualifier), at Performance Chiropractic & Sports Medicine (also Tollway and Windhaven) is also good, and has an awesome massage guy named Anthony, 972-473-8980.
  • David LeventhalDavid Leventhal
    Thanks Scott!  I appreciate the info.
Sign In or Register to comment.