Hamstring Issues

Hi Annie.

The entire pattern fits one of an L4/5 problem or sacrum neurological weakness. This occurs more frequently than you think. The disc bulge probably is nothing as 1/3 of people walking around also have these with no symptoms at all, however it does suggest degeneration. I strongly suggest you find someone who can deal with this in your area. It also sounds like you may have an aerobic/anaerobic issue as well. Look for a good Chiro who practices Applied Kinesiology.

This sounds familiar! - I'm a 41 yr old track runner, but used to do 10k road stuff (slowly!) then found I was better at shorter stuff, and enjoy it more - now doing 400m. Hamstrings have always been a bit weak, many slight strains etc, but been going well this winter.
However, in the last 6 weeks I've developed what can only be described as an 'ache' from pretty high in my right glute down through the hamstring. This doesn't seem to stop me running but is awkward and it must affect me when one leg is so much tighter than the other.
Phyiso no. 1 had a look and thinks it's an L4 issue, sciatic nerve etc. (Says I'm a bit imbalanced, pelvis not quite in line, one leg longer than other etc) Physio no. 2 not so sure, and 2 days ago treated me with acupuncture, I was lying on one side with needles from backside down to heel, must have looked bizarre. It's still settling down, so can't really tell yet, but I've heard acupuncture takes 4 sessions or so to take any effect.
I'm still wondering how much training I can do, physio says lay off the hard stuff (ie. fast track in spikes), run in a pool, cycle etc.
Any ideas? keen to know how yours progresses Annie

Andy, this is a different problem. It is easy enough to say there is a problem with an area effecting nerve function, but the "how" is the big issue. Most physios look at this from a biomechanical perspective, but at any given time we can find biomechanical issues in one's spine. It's the neurological consequence that is important. From what you are saying I would suggest that this problem would be aggravated by prolonged sitting and you would probably have tenederness within the piriformis and other glueat muscles that temporarily releaves the pain massage.

This fits a hypermobile or fixated sacroilliac joint patten. This is where there is minimal change to the movement patten of the joint but a definate neurological consequence. Spinal manipulation will actually make this problem worse. It needs to be dealt with from gentle "slide-in" type correction. Very easily dealt with though. You will also find tenderness within the QL muscle on the involved side.

As a ballet dancer with an aggravating hamstring issue for years, I can attest to the absolute efficiency of Muscle Activation Technique. ART is also good but does not address the main concern. Here is the deal -- your body is a sytematic mechanical mechanism. Each muscle is designed to be a Prime Mover in one particular way and then also it works cooperatively to assist other muscles in movemnet, as well. If any one of your muscles is shut down neurologically bc it is not strong enough to receive a proper contraction signal, then indeed other muscles will substitute themselves and of course bc they are functioning in a way they are not designed to, they will mal-function. EXAMPLE: lifting up your leg (hip flexion) requires the use of a number of muscles -- it is initiated often by the Rectus Femoris, then the Ilio-Psoas should take over as the Prime Mover after a certain height. HOWEVER if the Ilio-Psoas is not functioning neurologically, then the Rectus Femoris will do more than its share of work, (you will see this if you have bulky front quads and small hams) and also it will involve the Pectineous muscle which should not be doing anything -especially lifting the leg/flexing the hip. Then, over time systematically the Prime Mover (Ilio-Psoas in this case) gets weaker and weaker and the other muscles do more and more they are not supposed to be doing and then hte nerves simply get shut down bc the muscle is not strong enough to accept neural input -- then the bone structure becomes mal-aligned and then the nerves start pinching and so on and so forth. Muscle tightness is a sign of muslce weakness. The muscle protects itself from moving into ranges it is not strong enough to support via itself or its mirroring and balancing muscle on the other side. M.A.T. work isolates each muscle and tests its neurological input (abilty to contract unassisted by other muscles) and if the nerves are not firing the muscle correctly then the work is done to "re-boot" up the muscle. Then you are given strengthening exercises for that muscle so that it continues to build its neurological receptiveness and ability to function.

I am not an M.A.T. specialist myself but it has totally healed my body so that I can continue ballet well into advanced years. It is entirely based on the muscle,bone and nerve mechanics of the body. You can also use ART in conjunction with MAT (I do) so that you can dislodge the scar tissue. MAT can restore neurological capabilities throughout your lumbar spine and entire body -- and yes THE PELVIS IS A MAIN CULPROT FOR HAMSTRING INJURY AS IS A WEAK LOWER ABDOMEN/PELVIC FLOOR. Also the top of the ham right underneath the buttock is important for holding the weight of the pelvis properly as is the tensor fascia latae. If the weight of the pelvis bone which is heavy and large sinks into the legs then the leg muscles and lumbar area are stressed bc the function of a muscle is to MOVE your bones(body) NOT give the actual structural support. However tight and weak muscles inhibit the tendons and ligaments from supporting your structure bc it moves the body into ill-patterned positioning for efficiency.