Hamstring Pain

[midi]

I have an odd hamstring issue at the moment.

Whenever doing an RDL or any pull with the bar around knee level, I get what feels like a hamstring strain in my left leg, from about 3/4 the way up my hammie, to right up under my ass at the hamstring attachement. At first I assumed I had a pull/minor tear in either Hamstring or Glutes, or even tendonitis at the hamstring attachement....however....

- If I do pure knee flexion (i.e. Leg Curls) i get no pain.
- if I do pure hip extension (such as a barbell hip thrust), I get no pain

This seems to suggest its not an injury of the Hamstring or Glute

However, if I do a combined glute hamstring movement like an RDL, Clean Pull etc I get pain in the area mentioned which feels like a muscle belly injury

I have also noted if I stretch the left hamstring (standing with straight leg on chair in front of me), I get an odd shaking in my leg which I dont get on the right side. I also typically have better than average hamstring flexibility (hands flat on floor is not a problem)

I can only guess I've got some type of neural thing going on, perhaps Sciatic nerve related. I have had Sciatic issues quite a lot in the past, but never on the left side, and never hamstring pain (usually just lower back, glute/priformis type pain).

Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

[drdiran]

Hamstring pain will vary depending on the fibers involved in a "pull". What you are describing would be labled as a "high" hamstring pull, or "high hamstring tendonopathy".

You could have sciatic involement, but you don't seem to be describing radicular pain like we normally see with that.

Try icing your "sits bone", or right where the hamstring attaches to the butt. Although your ROM is good, that doesn't mean it is not decreased. For example I have had gymnast pull their hamstring yet still be able to touch their nose to their knee. Decreased ROM is relative to where the ROM was prior to the injury. Also the upper hamstring does not contract until the end ROM that is why it hurts with an RDL but not a leg curl. In runners, they can often jog with a high hamstring injury, but not sprint.

That is where I would start with this injury, but keep me posted as nerve involvement is always a possibility.

Dr. Diran

[midi]

Also the upper hamstring does not contract until the end ROM that is why it hurts with an RDL but not a leg curl. In runners, they can often jog with a high hamstring injury, but not sprint.
Dr. Diran

Ahh ha...very interesting

Also, you are correct about ROM. It is reduced, and does feel a little tighter on the left side

Thanks for the quick response. I will follow your recomendations a let you know how it goes.

Thanks again