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Hamstring Probem - IMAZ

scott dinhoferscott dinhofer
in General Training Discussions

if anyone read my race report on IMAZ, I had a hamstring problem. Here is the synopsis.

After long runs all year, i would be hobbleing around, in the last couple of long runs, the hamstring felt tight. (Left) and i also at times had a pain deep in the top of my calf center.

IMAZ - when i did the practice ride on Friday, i felt the hamstring, eg it did not hurt, but it was making sure i knew it was present. I had a similiar feeling the entire bike, by mile 8, it started tightening up and getting worse. by mile 16-20 it had on 2-3 occassions felt like i took a step and the hamstring wasnt' going to support me and "give" out.

Mile 22, i clearly was changing my gait and now came up with an IT band problem in the RIGHT leg and stopped running.

Since IMAZ, I caught some kind of bug that made me feel like crap through Thanksgiving weeeknd, Did my first run on saturday or Sunday of TG weekend, 2.5 miles, ran for first time in FFS and felt fine.

Did run #2 in regular running shoes and hammy was acting up.

what does it feel like? tightness, that is it. stretching more (i dont stretch enough) i like the new articles that say stretching is overrated. dull pain, feels better when i rest it.

Going for my first massage today. Thinking if i see a physiatrist or sports med doc, i am going to be prescribed PT and no running. I am cool with that, just want to lick this so i can start the OS on jan 2!

what exercises would people reccomend for this if i were to go to a PT? would massage help or hurt? going for my first one since IMAZ today...

Comments

  • J.T. ThompsonJ.T. Thompson
    Scott - I'd recommend you check out Leigh Boyle's website - Athletes Treating Athletes - there a a bunch of hamstring related exercises that can be very helpful - basically enabled me to get my hammy in shape to do IMCDA last year....a massage a week is also a good idea....there are also a number of older posts on the medical forum you might want to look up.... Good Luck....
  • SwanieSwanie
    Weekly Massage will definitely help. Also, I am sure to crucified here for saying this....but I am not a big stretcher. I had so e hamstring problems last year and would stop mid run or after the run to stretch the hamstring and it seemed to make it worse. When I stopped stretching and just let it relax the hamstring problems went away.
  • Joe CrispinoJoe Crispino
    Since November, I have been having hamstring issues (upper right as it connects into the glute area). I have stretched, iced, gone to message therapy, currently doing Active release therapy for 4 weeks now. I also try to roll it out with a foam roller but it is a tough spot to get to with a roller. On top of all that, I have reduced my running from 4 days per week to 2 days per week for the last 4-5 weeks and all running is done in zone 1-2....absolutely NO SPEED work. it does not bother me on the bike which is a good thing but I still have this knotted/tight feeling when I do my slow runs. The only thing that seems to help is advil. I am planning on IMSG on May 5th. I am concerned that I may have to back out, I'm now into crunch time. Any advice would be greatly appreciated folks. thanks guys....

    Joe
  • morpheusmorpheus
    Joe-

    just my experience with calf and hamstring issues....if you're doing the rehab yourself, I recommend that you forget the reduction in volume and frequency and intensity and just stop running for a couple of weeks. When you think you are fine, then give it another week. OFF. If it doesn't affect the cycling, up that volume. If it does, that's a different angle to this problem. All the while, knowing and accepting that the run will suffer on race day from this. It is what it is. I believe it would be better to pace wisely at SG on legs that may be undertrained but aren't injured than to hit race day and try to limp thru the last 20 miles.

    If you have the means to see a good PT routinely, maybe 1-2x week, I would recommend that since there is a huge goal of yours in the near future that this hammy is threatening. If you can do this, you may find that you'll be back running sooner, and without the constant nagging pain, than the above scenario.

    Man, good luck. Biggest problem here is that SG is so close. Keep us updated.



  • Joe CrispinoJoe Crispino

     thanks Chris.  I did try NO running for a couple weeks but I think I may have over stetched.  I'm easing off a bit.

  • Steven FordSteven Ford

    My wife who always thought it was her hamstrings where to tight recently found out it was her hip  flexors and it was pulling her forward which was pulling on her hamstrings. She was told not to stretch her hamstrings but to work on her hip flexors.

     

    Food for thought.

  • Coach PatrickCoach Patrick
    x2 what steve said. Odds are if your hammies are taxed it's b/c they are overdoing it b/c something else ain't functioning 100% correctly. Definitely go see a PT, etc!
  • jmoss70jmoss70

    I got the same thing, high hamstring/glue strain.  I can muscle through just about any run but it is not pleasant at all.  I'm in Week 11 of IMCDA Advanced.  My PT has told me absolutely no stretching.  Says I am more than plenty flexible in the hamstrings and that my hip flexors and quads are overpowering and are the ones to blame.  

    I'm actually considering a cortisone shot to zap it.  I know that's not a long term fix.  I'm doing some strength exercises now.  And hoping for the best possible outcome.

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