How to treat Hamstring Pain

Are you training for the Dublin marathon? Have you been strengthening your hamstrings?

The hamstrings are usually associated with sprinting more so than endurance running but strong hamstrings are essential for running, irrespective of speed.

Research has shown that peak muscle forces generated in the hamstrings were up to 8.95 times bodyweight when running at a speed of 8.9 m/second. Interestingly the hamstring peak muscle force was high even at slower running speeds (3.49m/second).

As a runner runs faster, the hamstring peak muscle force increases, but this research highlights that whether we are running slow or fast, the hamstrings are still working hard!

If you are marathon training, give these hamstring exercises a go

1.      Eccentric hamstrings

2.      Elevated glute bridge

3.      Single leg RDL  

Click below to watch a demonstration.