Hamstring injuries are JUST THE WORST!! And that is because they are slow to heal and quick to come back if you don’t fix the problem. Band-aids don’t work with fixing hamstring strains because if you don’t put the time in, they will never go away.
So where is the BEST place to spend your time?
This list can go for any body part, but is a MUST HAVE for any runner with a hamstring injury that wants to run faster, run longer, and run without pain.
The role of the hamstring during running is to PULL your FOOT from the ground as the foot leaves the ground to go back underneath your hip (also known as the running pose). Many runner try to drive their knee during this transition or push off with the calf, so along with hamstrings strain/pain, this technique flaw can also lead to hip flexor pain and calf strains, respectively.
So stop making smaller muscles work harder and stop under-utilizing the hamstring. There are 4 large hamstring muscles. They work together and they work rhythmically. What that means is they like things consistently on a beat. So think about tapping your foot along to your favorite song . . .well, hamstrings like the same thing when pulling your foot off the ground back into the running pose.
To fix hamstring injuries for long-term results, work on all of the things above! To learn more about each of those, visit our YouTube Channel or call our office at 815.893.9075 to work with one of our running technique specialists (either virtually or in-person)!
