- Thread starter
- #26
Also I had an x-ray on my back and nothing of note showed up in the results. Is this odd? Or would causes of sciatic pain not show up on an x-ray?
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AFLW 2024 - Round 10 - Chat, game threads, injury lists, team lineups and more.
Hamstring Injury
- Thread starter SnappyHappy
- Start date
- Tagged users None
An Xray of the back will tell you very little in your case.
- Oct 16, 2009
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- #28
My guess is you have a pelvic misalignment which is almost certainly causing a leg length inequality. (This is visible on x-ray, but never reported on by radiologists)
This along with myofascial restrictions in the piriformis and glutes puts undue tension on the sciatic nerve and hamstring, causing the recurrent micro-tears you're experiencing.
You need to address the pelvic misalignment and myofascial restrictions in the hamstring, piriformis and glutes for your rehab to be complete.
Also scar tissue from previous injuries needs to be treated.
All the best
- Thread starter
- #29
My guess is you have a pelvic misalignment which is almost certainly causing a leg length inequality. (This is visible on x-ray, but never reported on by radiologists)
This along with myofascial restrictions in the piriformis and glutes puts undue tension on the sciatic nerve and hamstring, causing the recurrent micro-tears you're experiencing.
You need to address the pelvic misalignment and myofascial restrictions in the hamstring, piriformis and glutes for your rehab to be complete.
Also scar tissue from previous injuries needs to be treated.
All the best
Hey mate. What sort of specialist would I need to see to fix my pelvic misalignment? And also myofascial restrictions?
Just as an update, I had dry needling done to break up previous scar tissue. Hamstring strength was reported as very good when tested by two different physios and club trainer.
I eventually built up to full training and played 2 weeks ago and got through the game fine. The next week at training my hamstring pulled up sore from kicking and fatigued really quickly..I was again feeling the sharp shooting pains through my hamstrings.
I eased off on Thursday and attempted to play Saturday but only got through a half...sharp pains had returned and I could feel it even kicking in the warm up. I got tackled just before half time and when I stood up I could feel a knot at the top of my hamstring so I stopped playing. The knot went away pretty quickly.
Seems I'm back to square one, beyond frustrating at this point but there's obviously something I'm missing. A sports doctor, an osteo and a physio have all checked my hamstring before my return game and have found no problems (I raised the sciatic nerve possibility but they said it seemed fine)?
Cheers
you can check pelvic alignment yourself, well with a partner at least...lye on your back and have your partner pull your legs from the feet towards them trying to stretch you out...nothing violent just a moderate pull then see how the soles of the feet line up...then do the same with your arms seeing how the thumbs line up...that should give you an idea and a possible starting point
ham flexibility might not be the problem but i've seen plenty of people of butcher a ham length test but yours does sound at least part neural anyway leading to thoughts of possible sciatica related issues
catsfan is in melbs i think so maybe pop in for a visit
ham flexibility might not be the problem but i've seen plenty of people of butcher a ham length test but yours does sound at least part neural anyway leading to thoughts of possible sciatica related issues
catsfan is in melbs i think so maybe pop in for a visit
- Thread starter
- #31
I just did pelvic alignment test and it seems fine. Both feet and thumbs line up..
give that a go and see what happens
- Thread starter
- #33
Have done the slump test a few times. Can really feel it behind the knee but surprisingly I seem to have more range/flexibility in my right leg than my left. (My right hamstring is the injured one).
try daily quad + hip flexor activation followed glute work for your right side for the next 2 weeks...twice daily if you can...it seems the ham is compensating for something...if it isn't nerve pain of course
Where exactly in the hamstring is the pain? Is it right near your pelvis? Pain with anything else. eg. sitting on hard surface, walking uphill?
- Thread starter
- #36
The pain is right in the mid belly. Sometimes sitting/driving in the car I get the shooting sharp pains in both hamstring/glutes but mainly my right side.
Okay, well it's not the tendon then. It sounds like your hammy is strong from all the rehab you are doing. It might be a good idea to do a single leg hamstring curl on machine or on swiss ball to test out the strength in comparison to other side.
I'd be still looking at the neural component (nerve). So you'd need to assess properly a slump and a straight leg raise. Maybe even gluteal trigger points that are referring to the hammy.
- Thread starter
- #38
I've started doing single leg curls on a Swiss ball as part of my strengthening and they seem pretty similar in strength.
In terms of properly assessing nerve issues and gluteal trigger points what sort of doctor/specialist am I better off seeing?
I'm biased but i'd see a good sports physio who does dry needling.
- Thread starter
- #40
I did some Glute work/activation earlier and I found my right Glute seems to be a lot weaker than my left. Could this be the problem? Ham compensating for a weak/tight glute?
Both extendors of the hip so could be compensating and overworked.
definitely part of it so use a 2 sets on your weal side for every 1 set on your strong side
- Thread starter
- #43
I have found I have tight hip flexors too.. so I'm thinking that tight hip flexors/glutes are putting extra strain on my hamstring when I lengthen out to kick? Because it's fine when I run it's only when I kick that it starts to play up.
craffles
Brownlow Medallist
Hey all,
I have injured my hamstring yesterday in a game of cricket.... sprinting to chase a ball, twanged it when slowing down. Day two now and ive elevated, rested and iced it a bit as well as taking anti inflammatories recommended by pharmacist. It doesnt feel that serious but is bruising nicely and is quite tender and is seizing up when pressure is placed on my leg unexpectedly.
What should I be doing from here on out? See a physio?
I have injured my hamstring yesterday in a game of cricket.... sprinting to chase a ball, twanged it when slowing down. Day two now and ive elevated, rested and iced it a bit as well as taking anti inflammatories recommended by pharmacist. It doesnt feel that serious but is bruising nicely and is quite tender and is seizing up when pressure is placed on my leg unexpectedly.
What should I be doing from here on out? See a physio?
10m acceleration sprints + glute bridges x 20
mon - 10 x 10m + 10 x 20 glute bridges in btw each sprint
tue - 15 x
wed - 20 x
thu - 25 x
fri - 15 - 20 x
stay in your comfort zone, you shouldn't feel any straining but stop at the first sign of
mon - 10 x 10m + 10 x 20 glute bridges in btw each sprint
tue - 15 x
wed - 20 x
thu - 25 x
fri - 15 - 20 x
stay in your comfort zone, you shouldn't feel any straining but stop at the first sign of
craffles
Brownlow Medallist
Even if it is still seizing up tomorrow?
give it a thorough warm up and stay well within your range
craffles
Brownlow Medallist
Ok. Will report back tomorrow, thanks for the advice
Covertackle
Premiership Player
- Banned
- #49
Ive had a theory for a while that ive actually put into practice on my kids. Its pretty simple.; Any sort of heel on your shoes shorten your calf muscles. Actually that is not a theory, it is fact. Google it 'high heels shorten calf muscles' .
My theory is that when a child begins wearing shoes (unnatural) he or she is changing the dynamics of the foot, calf muscle and of course this effects the hamstring. I believe hamstring injury is directly related to shortened calf muscles due to wearing heels on shoes. Look at your favourite brands of shoes in any sports store, or school shoe store. Alll of them have heels an inch or more.
My kids wear 'waffles'. They are a Little Athletics running shoe with about 3/4cm heel. I would send them to school in 'barefoot shoes if I could afford them.
So how do you counteract 20 odd years of wearing heels on your shoes? Id start by buying shoes with no heel at all, or taking the heels off. Walking and running barefoot or in 'waffle' or barefoot shoes to lengthen your calf muscles. The longer your calf muscles, the less stress you will put on the flexibility and less stress on your hamstrings.
For 60.000 years Aboriginal people couldn't afford to get hamstring injury chasing game. To do so would be to starve in some cases. But i'll bet my bottom dollar hamstring injury was nearly unheard of amongst those people who never wore heels.
how does a short calf affect the hamstring?
