Hamstring Problems

[Sneakers-Otoole]

Was just looking some advice from someone who has had a similar problem...

About 10 weeks ago, i was doing sprint training, 100m to be exact. Never had any hamstring problems but as i was reaching the half way point it 'popped'. Serious pain. Level 2 pull, made it difficult to walk. So stayed off the feet for a few days and stayed off training for 5 weeks.

After the 5 weeks rest, everything felt back to normal. Played a a competitive football match and during the warm up everything was fine. Stretched well and warmed up correctly. Within the first 5 minutes i sprinted to close down a defender and again the same thing, 'pop'.

Rested it again, missing the last 4 games of the season.

Was walking up the stairs in college on Thursday and again 'pop'. Same thing, pure agony at the moment so again resting it.

Any tips on what i could do?... I don't want this to be a recurring injury... So anyone had this sort of thing before?

Cheers,

Sneakers

Edited by Sneakers-Otoole on Friday 1st May 22:50

[gareth h]

I'd get some advice from a sportd physio, being an old git and having had several hamstring issues, make sure you warm up thoroughly and maybe wear neoprene shorts to keep the hammys warm during the game.

[renmure]

Sneakers-Otoole said:

About 10 weeks ago, i was doing sprint training, 100m to be exact. Never had any hamstring problems but as i was reaching the half way point it 'popped'. Serious pain. Level 2 pull, made it difficult to walk. So stayed off the feet for a few days and stayed off training for 5 weeks.

After the 5 weeks rest, everything felt back to normal.

The important question is... what did you do during the 5 weeks rest?
If you have a partial muscle tear it will happen as you describe. The healing and inflamation process involves the laying down of scar tissue. Unless you actively stretch the affected muscle during this phase (perhaps under the direction of a suitably qualified physio) then you will end up with an area likely to tear again. Similarly your rehab during this phase has to be directed at getting your muscle back to be doing whatever it is you want to end up doing rather than just resting it. (thats fairly simplified but you get the idea)

Sneakers-Otoole said:

Played a a competitive football match and during the warm up everything was fine. Stretched well and warmed up correctly. Within the first 5 minutes i sprinted to close down a defender and again the same thing, 'pop'.

Sounds like scar tissue breaking down again.

Sneakers-Otoole said:

Rested it again, missing the last 4 games of the season.

Was walking up the stairs in college on Thursday and again 'pop'. Same thing, pure agony at the moment so again resting it.

Any tips on what i could do?... I don't want this to be a recurring injury... So anyone had this sort of thing before?

Cheers,

Sneakers

Edited by Sneakers-Otoole on Friday 1st May 22:50

I am a physio with a background in professional sport. You don't tend to get this pattern of injury in elite athletes and sportsmen(ok, there are exceptions) since the "rest" period between injury and return to sport is really "rehab" and usually as active, energetic and intense as the actual sport itself/ Obviously the activity is modified to take account of the injury and the stage of healing. On the other hand, at amature or recreational level it is really very common as there is a tendency for folk to "rest or wait till they are fit again" before returning directly to the level of activity that they got injured at. Over time, the reccuring breakdown of muscle tissue/scar tissue leaves an area of weakness which is always likely to go pop again.