by > I've ben putting up with calf and ham pain, especially in my right leg
for some
> time.Been running for about 5 months and currently average about 15 miles per
> week. I'm 48 yrs. old, 5'-8", and weigh 190 lbs.
> Recently decided to back off (total rest for 1 week) and see if the pain
> subsides. After 3 days I'm still noticing the pain when I'm on my feet or just
> attempt a light jog. The pain in my hamstring seems to be very deep in the
> center of the leg about 3 inches above the back of the knee. I've checked for
> knots, massaged, hot, cold, stretches, you name it. I can't find the pain by
> pressing or probing into the muscles. Only feel pain when I put weight on my
> legs or try a light jog.
> I've heard of something called compartment syndrome. How could I tell if this
> is possibly my problem? What other suggestions might anyone have? I'm not
> running now and want to get back on the road as soon as I can. Any help
1. Put a baseball under the hamstring as you are sitting and roll the
hamstring from side to side over the baseball.
2. Check out the articles:
http://www.mindfulness.com/mind/of1.html (Calves Not Achilles)
http://www.mindfulness.com/mind/of5.html (Strengthening Hams/Quads
Give you some ideas. The reality that it may be the quad that causes the
hamstring to have to work against a semi-relaxed quad, causing the
hamstring to have to strain. The Hamstring shortens and has an effect on
your stride so that the calf is having to be overworked since the stride
length on the tight quad and hamstring is shortened and when you push off
with the other foot, the shortened side doesn't allow for the natural gait
and puts the shin which can cause the calf to have to overcompensate.
Remember you're talking about your body...which is a system. Often what
you think is the problem is the result of the cause which when you track it
down is due to the fact that carrying a heavy briefcase has tightened your
right shoulder which doesn't allow for the natural torque of the body and
puts stress on the quad of the opposite side which in turn causes the
hamstring to have to work even harder to compensate which results in an
imbalance in your stride that ends up causing the problem in your
calf...which isn't the real problem but the shin makes the calf work twice
as hard because the shin is always semi-contracted when it is suppose to be
relaxed as the calf is contracted.
You get the idea
--
In health and on the run,
Ozzie Gontang
Maintainer - rec.running FAQ
Director, San Diego Marathon Clinic, est. 1975
(Mindful Running) http://www.mindfulness.com