Pulled Hamstring and Stretching?

Question

Pulled Hamstring and Stretching?

Answer 1

what kind of massage did you get. You may want to see someone who specializes in sports or medical massage b/c they can give you specific stretches to do.

Answer 2

Your leg might just still be sore from the deep tissue massage, and unflexible from not being able to really use/stretch it for 10 weeks.

If you are still in pain though, it might be worth going to a physical therapist or sports doctor to see if it's healing properly or if there's something else going on.

Is it possible that you keep re-injuring it?

Answer 3

I know exactly what you mean. It sounds as if you should take up swimming, or at least take therapy in a whirlpool bath, and stretch there.

Answer 4

I am sorry that you are going through this. In my opinion you are going in the wrong direction. All the stretching and massage is not going to heal the hamstrings. First of all it often takes up to nine months to fully heal. What you have to do is strengthen the hamstrings. Right now they are in a protective mode and are not going to want to stretch as they are weak. So you need to start to gently strengthen them. To start off with I will assume that you don't have any strengthening equipment in the house or belong to a gym. Get some ankle weights or an ankle weight cuff that will allow you to add weights to it. Place the weight around the ankle and while standing bring the ankle up towards the buttocks. Go as high as you can comfortably but don't force it. Do that fifteen times and then switch legs. Repeat that cycle on the opposite leg. Continue this rotation until both legs have done the movements three times. Another movement is to take a belt or rope and place it into a loop and then place that around the foot. Assume a supine position with one knee bent to ninety degrees and the foot flat on the floor. Bring the other leg up so that the thigh is at ninety degrees from the hip. The knee is now going to be straightened until a stretch is felt in the hamstrings. Stop at that point and make the belt or rope taught. Pull the leg back towards the floor but don't allow it to move by holding onto the rope or belt. Hold that position for a second or two and then relax. Again attempt to straighten the knee out and when you feel the slight stretch push down into the rope or belt. Remember to push against this but not with all of your strength. Over time you will build strength in the hamstrings and the leg will get straighter and more flexible. Flexibility comes from strength and not stretching. Use the ice on the area for fifteen to twenty minutes. When you return to dancing make sure that you are fully warmed up before dancing. A warm up is not stretching but some activity that makes you break out into a light sweat. When you have achieved that then you can stretch. Stretching makes you a better dancer or athlete only when the muscles are capable of supporting the activity that you are engaged in. If you have access to a gym then use a horizontal leg curl. Do one leg at a time or alternate the legs as if you are walking. The hamstrings are for most people an endurance group so they are not going to take heavy weights in lifting. You can also do deadlifts and good morning movements with light weights to build up the hips and hamstrings. Squats are also another movement that will help. If there is no improvement in a few weeks see a physical therapist for they will be able to help you.