Hamstring Cramping

[Guest guest]

Perhaps the problem isn't on the posterior side but the anterior side? Do you

have an anterior tilt/lower cross syndrome going on with your pelvis? If so, all

the glute bridges you do in the world will be for naught because the glutes will

just be inhibited. You might need to open up the hip flexors/locked up short

muscles through soft tissue work and some stretching that incorporates a

movement pattern and core activation. Then the locked up long muscles will start

to fire. Then go to the glute bridges, etc. Two other exercises that I

particularly like for building hip mobility/glutes/neuromuscular function are

single leg deadlifts and squats.

Alternatively look at the hip flexor stretch proposed by Stuart McGill. The most

common hip flexor stretches that most people use really only target the

illiacus; one really needs a more three dimensional stretch eg. employing an

inline semi-lunge position with trunk rotation and side bending to really hit

the psoas.

Or one might also look at your feet and whether for instance whether your big

toe has the prerequisite mobility needed. If not, you're going to shorten your

stride, place more stress on the LB because of the shifting in the COG and

finally resulting in tightening of the hamstrings.

Myles B. Astor, PhD

Equinox Fitness Clubs

New York, NY US

1a.

Re: Hamstring cramping

Posted by: " Mark " boogatc02@... boogatc02

Thu May 24, 2012 9:31 am (PDT)

,

It could be that the muscles of your low back, and especially your glutes are

not firing properly, or fully, causing the hamstrings to be overworked.

Personally- glute bridges always caused my hamstrings to cramp up, doing them

with a band placed around the knees and pushing out slightly takes care of this.

I would try some double leg and single leg glute bridges, also lateral resisted

band walks- these will activate the glutes. Certainly worth a try..

Mark , MS, ATC, CSCS

Syracuse, NY

________________________________

From: <smitty95153@...>

Supertraining

Sent: Monday, May 21, 2012 5:20 AM

Subject: Hamstring cramping

Hamstring cramping

To the Supertraining group,

I would appreciate it if anybody has a suggestion or

suggestions for the following situation.

I am a 52 year old former college football player who practices,

jogging, martial arts, weightlifting, and numerous other activities. Ever since

I was in my twenties if I lie face

down in a prone position and I try and bring one of my heels to my glute’s, my

hamstring on the leg lifted will automatically cramp. My hamstrings will also

cramp after I have

been exercising for a while. I have

tried several things to combat this situation, chiropractic work, deep tissue

massage, static stretching, PNF stretching, ballistic stretching, and

acupuncture. I have also been conscious of hydrating

really well as well as taking magnesium supplements in order to combat the

cramping. Please advise, thirty years of

leg cramps has taken its toll on me.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions,