Sore hamstrings are common among runners, soccer players, and pretty much any athletes who use their legs. That doesn't mean you should accept it. If you're not sure what's causing your hammies to hurt, then something has changed, and it might be obvious. Are your shoes worn out? Did you significantly increase your training volume? Did you start running on a different surface? If you answered "no" to each question, then you may be over-trained. Click on the slideshow for tips to ease the pain.
| Previous |  1. Massage your hamstrings. Use a foam roll or massage stick to loosen up knots in your muscles.  schacon on flickr 2. Mix up your training. Try cross training in the pool (running in water or swimming) one week a month so you're not always doing the same thing and putting the same stress on your body.  3. Taper your training volume every third week. Cut your mileage by a third to a half to give your body time to recover. You can still train just as hard.  image by Dave Cruz 4. Strengthen your glutes. If your glutes are weak, your hamstrings will have to work overtime to pick up the slack. So include mini band walks in your workout to strengthen your glutes, and make sure you're feeling it in your glutes and not your hamstrings. | Next |
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Abbott Nutrition strongly recommends that you consult with your physician before beginning any exercise program and perform exercises under the supervision of a certified fitness trainer or conditioning coach. The effect of any specific exercise on a medical condition should be determined by your health care professional. The suggestions here are in no way intended to substitute for medical advice.