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Are you experiencing pain due to a hamstring injury?

The hamstring may be the most commonly injured part of the human body. If you’ve been lucky enough to have never injured it, then it’s likely that you’ve at least experienced “tight” hamstrings at some point in your life. Either way, we need to understand the hamstring and stop settling for a diagnosis of an untreatable “hamstring problem.”

The hamstring has both mobility and protective duties. It contracts to help move the hip and knee, and it also protects nerves and joints in the lower back, hip and knee from potential injury. When there is tightness in the hamstrings, this is indicative that there is an underlying issue that should be dealt with soon. This way the hamstrings can return to their full functionality in their dual role, and decrease the risk of further injury.

Nerve Entrapment

When the sciatic nerve gets glued down through the hip or hamstring, the nerve is unable to slide normally. (Sciatic Video) The body reacts by engaging the hamstrings early to prevent over-stretching and damaging the sciatic nerve.

Restricted Hip Joint

When adhesion builds up around the back of the hip capsule and surrounding musculature, the joint is compromised and at greater risk of injury. The body responds by contracting the hamstrings to prevent further damage.

Lumbar Disc Injuries

When someone has a bad disc (herniated, bulging, or just degenerated), the body is less willing to flex forward. In turn, this places even more load on the vulnerable disc in the lower back. One of the hamstrings’ primary duties is to help you stand up straight.

When you have a disc injury, those hamstrings will engage early in an attempt to get you to straighten up as often as possible. You may recognize this as cramping in the hamstrings after prolonged sitting in an office chair, or driving.

This is your body’s way of saying “STAND UP,” you’re doing more damage in this seated position.

What to do

There is no shortage of products that supposedly address this problem; some (much) more expensive than others.

The “home treatments” tend to do more harm than good. Get a professional and accurate diagnosis from an Orchard Park Chiropractor to resolve not only your tight hamstrings, but the underlying issue causing them.

Certified in Advanced Chiropractic Care

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