Hamstring injury

[tallsue]

Hi

I'm not a 'Runner', but I have always been pretty active (swim, hike, gym) and I run occasionally to improve my fitness. A couple of months ago I tried some simple interval training - 45 sec fast run with 30 sec recovery walk for 20 mins. I felt pretty good, except that my left hamstring gradually got tighter as I went on. I tried to stop and stretch it out, but that didn't help.
I thought it was one of those irritations that would sort itself out after a couple of days, but two months later it's still bothering me. The pain is quite high up (nearly in the glute) and I feel it more doing the standing hamstring stretch (with the injured leg straight out in front and the other slightly bent) rather than the one where you lie on your back and have your leg straight up in the air.
I'm currently trying taking Ibuprofen for a week - it does help a bit. I've also tried sitting on a tennis ball to massage it, which also seemed to help a bit. Unfortunately, I can't find the tennis ball any more (no rude jokes please!). I did have a sports massage session, but the therapist didn't seem to hit the spot either.
I'm thinking of doing the Cardiff 10K in Sept. This injury doesn't stop me doing any activities, but it is irritating.
(Bizarrely, the only time it's completely stopped hurting was for a couple of days after I did a 28 mile hike - but this seems rather extreme as a therapy!)

Sue

[mbeveridge]

tallsue
It sounds like an 'overuse' injury to the hamstring. If it is, (rather than an underlying back problem, etc), then you want to stop it being strained (by exercise or overstretching) ...else it'll recur and maybe worsen

Your description makes it sound relatively mild at the moment, which gives you some scope/ options to carry on. If it was me (and I didn't want to just rest), I would :

1. Do a gentle warmup before exercise, or do your first couple of miles more slowly than normal
2. Don't overstride when running, and don't change pace (up or down) suddenly
3. Stretch the muscles either side (glutes, calves), and stretch the hamstrings carefully
4. If it's sore from the activity then I.C.E. afterwards. If it's sensitive to pressure, then anti-inflammatories

Alternatively, lower risk option : Stop, see a specialist and do whatever stretching (s)he recommends, and a 'mild' case may be ok in 10-14 days

Moti (in Bristol, I know) has therapists working various days who can give free 15min (diagnosis) sessions (bookable). If your case is mild then you may not need treatment, but you'd have a better plan (and possibly a diagnosis of an underlying issue, if there is one)

Good luck, whatever you do. Post again if that didn't answer it ...or if you find the fix!

[ben]

Hi,
I'm Ben Tolson one of sports massage therapists at MOTI in Bristol. Having read your description of your pain it could certainly be a hamstring strain. From the location you describe this area could be the ischial tuberosity where the hamstrings attach. If this is the case then one possible explanation could be that its bursitis. A bursue is basically a sac where prevents friction between the bone and muscle. If you have a sports massage or similar treatment and don't respond (possibly gets worse) then the cause may be bursitis. It could be a hamstring strain as well and quite easily be bursitis and hamstring strain one leading to the other. As will all cases it is important to look at a global picture as the buttock muscles may be contributing as well as inadequate warm up cool down.