Hamstring

[Catrin]

My right quad felt much better this weekend than last - so the little break over the week helped and yesterday I tried to limit my ride to only 50 miles - while there were a few hills there were not many. My right hamstring, however, is still troubling me for the first 30 minutes or so when I get on the bike. Not much, but it talks to me.

I wanted to go for a recovery ride today - but since walking had my hammie talking to me I decided it would be better to go for a good walk instead - so headed for my favorite park. Not a very exciting place to walk, but figured the trails wouldn't be too hard on my leg. It was fine, but still the hamstring was twinging for the first 15-20 minutes or so.

Am unsure if this is still from the new weights two weeks ago (which doesn't seem reasonable as we haven't repeated that machine), or if perhaps it is simply from my muscles adjusting to clipping in (my trainer thinks it might be related).

Would it be better to try and target my hamstring in gentle stretching, or just back off on the intensity of my cycling for a few more days. I've only ridden once since last Sunday and I am starting to chafe at that. Spinning just isn't the same...

[redrhodie]

I'm wondering if it could be cleat position? It seems like your pain has happened since they were installed. Just something else to consider, in addition to many other possibilities!

Personally, I would not stretch an injured hamstring. I'd just let it heal, and take ibuprofen. I probably would do a really easy ride, but I'd stop if it hurt at all.

[Catrin]

I'm wondering if it could be cleat position? It seems like your pain has happened since they were installed. Just something else to consider, in addition to many other possibilities!

Personally, I would not stretch an injured hamstring. I'd just let it heal, and take ibuprofen. I probably would do a really easy ride, but I'd stop if it hurt at all.

The hamstring/quad in that leg were aggravated prior to my moving to clipless. For one session my trainer had me on a reclined leg-press machine and as I remember that side was particularly hard to press. So much that he decreased the weight for the other side. Hm-mm, that probably fired things up.

Then of course I just HAD to jump straight into clipless once I saw that I could actually use them and immediately went to >50 mile rides after one "little" 30 mile spin on them. It may have simply been a combination of the two and too much, too soon. My saddle is about an inch too low at this point... shoes have a higher sole than my sandals) and we are raising it a few mm at a time - there is a reason for that

After my leg warms up then the twinging goes away - and it is only a very isolated location on the back of my leg that may even be some other muscle than the hammie. It is about halfway down the back of my leg, off to the right of center just a tad.

Makes sense not to stretch it - haven't been good with the ibuprofen (never am) but will make an effort. Tuesday will head out again...

[Deborajen]

I've been doing battle with hamstring pain/spasms in my left leg since the middle of June. Mine are awful - the hamstring gets really painful mainly when I'm standing still, and it can get so bad I nearly pass out. Everything I've read about hamstring injuries says to stretch gently, to take Advil or Aleve and to use ice or heat.

I did have a mishap on my bike a few days before all of this started - I swerved trying to avoid being hit by a car, then swerved so I wouldn't hit a curb -- ended up unclipping my feet in a rush and tipping the wrong way off a curb, and the bike came with me - ramming the nose of the seat into the left side of my butt. That hurt like none other, and the doc says it might have caused a deep bruise that's irritating the hamstring. I'm getting some tingling in the hamstring area and in my foot, too, so he says another possibility is my back might be the culprit. My back and hip x-rays were o.k., but I do have scoliosis.--

The doctor told me that hamstring problems can be a real mystery. He's sending me to physical therapy which I'll be starting Friday and he's also put me on Mobic, which is an anti-inflammatory. Wish I had some better suggestions - I do feel your pain.

[Dogmama]

I'm getting some tingling in the hamstring area and in my foot, too, so he says another possibility is my back might be the culprit. My back and hip x-rays were o.k., but I do have scoliosis.--

The doctor told me that hamstring problems can be a real mystery. He's sending me to physical therapy which I'll be starting Friday and he's also put me on Mobic, which is an anti-inflammatory. Wish I had some better suggestions - I do feel your pain.

Awhile back, my hamstring was so bad I couldn't run on it. It was due to my lower back disk problems. Went to PT for a few months where we did some hammie strengthening, stretching and icing afterward. The PT said to make sure that my lower back stays supple and strong and that my hammies also stay flexible & strong. So far, knock wood, no problems.

BTW I've been on mobic for fifteen years. It's been a lifesaver for me and my arthritic body.

[Catrin]

My fitter tells me that he isn't surprised my hamstring is giving me a little trouble. He said that when we are on platform pedals that our hamstrings are hardly engaged, but when we are clipped in they are certainly in use. It does seem to be improving since I only had one medium ride this weekend although I did do some light hiking.

Last night I went to spinning class and tried to back off a bit, and just got in from an easy 45 minute spin at the park. Trying to work my way up to a normal long ride this weekend, we will see how it goes!