Hey all,

Been having this for years. Quite often when doing leg day when performing squats, lunges etc I often end up with a sharp pain halfway through the motion in my hamstring area. More specifically the pain is mid way down the hamstring and slightly towards the inside of the thigh...always feel it on the way down, once I feel that I always stop my workout before I really pull a hamstring bad( I tried pushing through it before, and I was laid up for a few weeks). Once I tweak it it feels tender for the rest of the day, most often the next day its fine...but sure enough when I go to do legs again either near the end of the first set or during my second set I get it again.

It has been going on for years, Ive tried foam rollers, stretching, warming up, concentrating on propper form, lightening load(last few weeks it has even been happeneing even with body weight squats and lunges), tried doing more hamstring excersises before doing squats yada yada yada... Nothing has made this nagging issue go away. Somethimes its my left leg, some days its my right. I dont know if its a muscle issue or something else...but I ususally really enjoy leg day and its one of my weeknesses and legs is something I really want to be able to concentrate on...but I cant!

HELP!!

Thanks all!

Matt,

It first off sounds like you are causing Type 1 muscle strains (tears) in your hamstrings. While it is good you are doing foam rolling and stretching, it sounds like you still may have scar tissue forming. Second, usually these types of pulls from squatting are due to tight hamstrings and the biomechanical setup of your pelvis.

Some people can't go ass-to-grass on their squats as they are biomechanically not meant to. If this is you, only go as deep as you can comfortably do. Also, try applying Tiger Balm, Heet, or other warming linaments on your hams before you do leg training to get the area loose and warmed up. If it continues to occur, I would see a sports medicine doctor as you have some imbalances or tightness somewhere. Squatting involves more functional areas than most people realize and tightness in any one of them (ankles, knees, pelvis, hips, lower back, hamstrings, etc) can cause imbalances that transfer undo stress to other areas resulting in strains and sprains.

John

Does the pain feel like a toothache? This problem sounds as though you have some neural complications due to the fact it occurs in both legs at various points. Do you suffer with back problems?

Its not like a tooth ache. Feels like a strained muscle, and if I push it it feels like a pulled muscle.

Currently I have foot pain, shin pain, hip pain, back pain, shoulder pain, elbow pain and neck pain...lol

Sounds like you need to go and see a sport/massage therapist bro...if these are uncomfortable pains that is. If it's just DOMS, then there's nothing to be worried about.

Otherwise, you might have some tightness which is playing a part all over your body.

Jordan

Going to Physio, massage, and chiro...im tryin...lol

By the sounds of it I would go see your doctor; total body pains are not a good sign. You may have an underlying pathology.

If you are having shooting pain, I would think more along the lines of a pinched nerve like the sciatic nerve. It could be inflamation of the smaller glute muscles like the piriformis pressing on the sciatic nerve. I would suggest using a lacrosse ball to massage the glute muscles to feel where you have tenderness and focus on that area of discomfort to break down any scar tissue that may be developing. I love the lacrosse ball for all types of massages if the the foam roller is not enough. I sometimes use it in the sauna at the gym so the muscle is relaxed enough to get into the glute muscles more deeply. Strenghthing exercises for those small glute muscles is what I would advise. Are you a runner? If so, Piriformis Syndrome is very common among runners.