Ep.11 Running After Hamstring Strain
It’s a common occurrence, especially for new runners. One of my patients recently completed her first half marathon after thorough training and preparation. Despite her expectations of everything going smoothly, a few days later, she began experiencing pain in her hamstrings. Initially, she ignored the symptoms and continued running with the pain. Unfortunately, a month later, the pain worsened, prompting her to seek advice at my office.
Upon evaluating her legs, movements, and muscle strength, I observed that her endurance was significantly lower than usual. This indicated poor eccentric contraction in her hamstrings. A hamstring strain generally occurs as a result of muscle overload, such as when you are running, and your leg is fully stretched out just before your foot strikes the ground. When your foot strikes the ground and all your weight is on it, the muscles can get stretched too far, and they may start to tear.
To address her condition, I recommended incorporating recovery running and provided manual sessions along with a set of exercises and educational guidance. Closely monitoring her progress, and I am confident that with the right approach, she will recover swiftly.
