Barbara WintroubAfter competing at both Huntsman and Nationals IV, I have determined that the competition has become the last man/woman standing wins. Some of the best players either withdrew or dropped out because of various injuries, including hamstring strain.
First, a personal story: I tore a hamstring badly during my triathlon career. I couldn’t walk or exercise. It was a second-degree tear. I went to physical therapy and received cross fiber massage, ultrasound and ice for months. Then some light stretching, strengthening and light exercise followed. Up to the tear time, I had not stretched my hamstrings, glutes or quads and did not strengthen my glutes and hamstrings. That eventually developed into imbalance of muscles, resulting in torn muscles. According to Mayo Clinic poor flexibility and lack of hip mobility can promote injuries. Ninety-nine percent of injured players say they do not stretch. See your medical practitioner before doing any of the following exercises. You need to know how seriously you are injured. If you aren’t injured…YET, do the exercises all the time. Pictures below demonstrate stretches and strengthening of the muscles. No one likes to stretch, especially alone. Join a sports specific slow stretch or yoga or Pilates class so you don’t have to groan alone. Wishing you a speedy recovery.
