Hamstring Injuries - Are We Missing Something?

[sven_inc]

Max Gawn had back tightness in round 2. Tore his hamstring tendon in round 3.

Jack Watts had back tightness in the Queens Birthday game. Missed the next few weeks after coming off with hamstring tightness against the Dogs.

I'm pretty sure almost every physio and sports medico knows that bad backs create bad hamstrings. But I did wonder if the Dees this year took too much risk with a couple of tall guys. Then again, they have to balance risk, they can't take every sore player out of a team.

I guess the question your article raised was:
Do clubs do enough to monitor basic sitting posture. I really have no idea, but it's definitely interesting.

Some great examples there.

To be honest, from what I see and who I speak to in my industry - it doesn't seem a popular connection made. It sounds like it should be but it doesnt seem to be. It's kind of one of the things that prompted me to write the article.

We are great a rehabbing an injured Hammy and focusing on core strengthening and return to sport but there seems little-no focus on the boring aspects (good resting spinal shapes, mobile spines, good trunk muscle activation).

Plenty of people aware of it im sure but Ive been referred a large number of patients who've never been exposed to these things unfortunately despite having others look at their injuries before.

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[Gralin]

sven_inc do you think we rush players back from hamstring injuries too quick? I know a few years ago at least if a runner did a hammy they were out for two to three months (talking Olympics etc) and I remember reading about it, when I say a few years this may have even been back in Buckley's playing days when he started having repeat issues

I know a sprinter is not the same as a footballer but what do they do in soccer for example?

 

[master bate]

Some great examples there.

To be honest, from what I see and who I speak to in my industry - it doesn't seem a popular connection made. It sounds like it should be but it doesnt seem to be. It's kind of one of the things that prompted me to write the article.

We are great a rehabbing an injured Hammy and focusing on core strengthening and return to sport but there seems little-no focus on the boring aspects (good resting spinal shapes, mobile spines, good trunk muscle activation).

Plenty of people aware of it im sure but Ive been referred a large number of patients who've never been exposed to these things unfortunately despite having others look at their injuries before.

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You might be interested in Dees strength and conditioning coach Rob Jackson's instagram. He posts a lot of fun little exercise videos that Melbourne supporters like but more broadly he'll commonly reply when asked by different professionals about the form + function of particular exercises. https://www.instagram.com/robjackson.com.au/?hl=en

 

[sven_inc]

sven_inc do you think we rush players back from hamstring injuries too quick? I know a few years ago at least if a runner did a hammy they were out for two to three months (talking Olympics etc) and I remember reading about it, when I say a few years this may have even been back in Buckley's playing days when he started having repeat issues

I know a sprinter is not the same as a footballer but what do they do in soccer for example?

I have no inside views but Im sure everyone's ready to go when they're back. From what I can gather the AFL is pretty careful with Hammies due to their relative frequency.

There may be some subtle indicators that lag and take a few weeks to upregulate after returning but Im sure the players are as ready as they currently can be in the current climate.

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[Golden_6]

Update: Strained a hamstring last night after my earlier positive post, spoke a little too soon. A very slight grade 1 but still frustrating.

 

[BrockBlitz]

This is a nice screenshot I took a few days ago and I completely agree with it.

Most Physio's know very little if anything about S&C - it's not taught much at all at uni. Every single program I've ever had from a Physio was written on the back of a piece of paper with really vague rep ranges and evercises. "Yeah when you've done this exercise for a while, do this one and then seem me next month" type crap.

Similarly, S&C guys aren't as good as the should be with the more complex disfunctions a Physio should pick up. There is a disconnect between the two professions and to be honest they are so closely linked I don't understand how they are currently taught seperatly.

I think as time goes by we will start to see Physio S&C coaches become a thing. Think Dr Joel Seedman from the states or guys like that.

 

[sven_inc]

Update: Strained a hamstring last night after my earlier positive post, spoke a little too soon. A very slight grade 1 but still frustrating.

Ah that sucks mate. Hope it's just a small hiccup. You probably have a lot of people throwing ideas at you but feel free to PM me if you think I can add anything of value.

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[sven_inc]

Gaz out yet again with another Hammy complaint. This time the other side.

Hope he's back soon!

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[sven_inc]

JPK a test for this week with his.

Brute of a man, but like Gaz has the same tendency to get into some pretty nasty spinal shapes judging by their Insta's.

Again, pics aren't definitive of anything but they're a good starting point...

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[sven_inc]

This is the last one I promise.

Just to even the ledger, here's a quick pic from Jen Hawkins' Insta.

Great view, great spinal shape. Bolt upright.

Not a comment on her back health or Hammy vulnerability, just a nice spinal shape.

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[Gralin]

So the model who knows how to take a photo to look her best and would be taking a photo to look her best has good posture

the blokes taking random insta photos have posture like me, but bigger guns

 

[sven_inc]

So the model who knows how to take a photo to look her best and would be taking a photo to look her best has good posture

the blokes taking random insta photos have posture like me, but bigger guns

And bad hamstrings [emoji16]

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[Always Ballin]

Hamstring injuries are usually due to these 3 things;

1. Poor Quad/Hamstring strength ratio
2. Weak lower back/spinal erectors - The hamstrings and the lower back spinal erectors effectively play a tug-o war on your pelvis. If the low back is not strong enough, the hamstrings will overcompensate, rotating the pelvis in a posterior pelvic tilt manner, and then the hamstrings will become over-dominant and then shortened
3. Weak glutes - When the glutes are weak, the hamstrings will be used to pick up the slack in Hip Extension, which is the most major athletic movement

Even an adductor imbalance can cause hamstring issues, as adductors have a legitimate Hip Extension component.

Mobility and strengthening go hand in hand.

 

[Always Ballin]

The nordic hamstring curl, or inverse curl is so effective because it forces proper lumbar spinal position. When your low back is in the right position, your hamstrings effectively lengthen and strengthen through an eccentric phase.