Barbara WintroubI’ve been suffering from this deep burning pain in my right bun at the origin of the hamstrings. It’s so bad I cannot drive or sit for more than five minutes before I start squirming. I have discovered that many of the players I know have the same problem. Friends have offered advice to get injections, take pain killers, see an orthopedic surgeon, etc. My opinion is that either my bones have shifted, pulling on muscles and causing the problem or pickleball has over tightened my hip muscles, the piriformis, psoas or both.
I met with a chiropractor who does muscle testing. I refuse to have any part of my body cracked, but muscle testing is fine. She went through a bunch of tests to discover that my psoas was a mess and my bun muscles were turned off. She worked on me a bit, then pulled my right leg out of the socket. What a crunch I heard. Then she pulled on the left leg. Same noise. Finally she turned my bun muscles on again. So far I have been mostly pain free when I sit or drive, but I am required to do several stretches a lot more often. If you can find a way not to have injections or take meds, better for you and your liver.
The first stretch is a lunge stretch with side over to stretch your psoas.
The second stretch is a figure-four stretch for the piriformis. While seated or standing cross your right ankle over your left knee and gently push your knee down.
Ed. Note: Fitness guru Barbara Wintroub is the author of Fighting Gravity.