Hamstring muscle problems?

Dagon

Having problems doing serious stretching at the moment as the back of my leg gets really sore, especially if I do a stretch involving putting my face down to the knee - I reckon it could be a pulled hamstring, but am not sure. It's a real pain because I had no problems previously getting into deep stretches and now I can only get my head down half way.

I wasn't training as much after christmas because of college, and I may have attempted too much kicking instead of taking it easy having not trained regularly. Must have done the damage in January sometime, and I still have the same problem now.

If anyone has any tips on how to get this sorted, I'd be really grateful because it doesn't seem to be going away. I thought it was, then after attempting some proper stretching it reappeared like new again It's affecting my training and my kicking.

Cabelo

Take a longer break and when you come back do lighter/dynamic stretches for the first week or two. Don't try to immediately go backj to deep stretches, you'll redamage it again - and apparently that is far worse.

Dagon

Don't try to immediately go backj to deep stretches, you'll redamage it again - and apparently that is far worse.

Doh... hope I haven't already done that!

Thanks mate. Will give it a rest so (even though I'm suppose to be in a tournament on Sunday ).

Colm_OReilly

If you're trying to put your face onto your knee your stretching incorrectly as your pulling at your back on both ends. If you're stretching your hamstring try to put your chin on your toe, and have your chest come to rest on your knee. This will keep your posture correct.

Colm_OReilly

What's your objective wrt stretching? What are you willing to dedicate to it? If you're a prime conditioned gymnast who is used to movement while stretched then bouncing is part and parcel of his sport. Someone looking to improve their flexability, I wouldn't recommend it as there's two many ways in which you can mess it up.