Hamstring injuries are very common.

Especially among high level athletes, and more commonly among my peers, people who used to be high level athletes and still try to be intermittently.

What do I mean?

It’s those of us that used to play high level sports.

Then life happens and we don’t train the same way we used to. We don’t play the sports as consistently as we used to. And we don’t have the time for all that physical free play.

For example, someone who used to play high level baseball in high school gratuates college and gets a desk job. Years go by. They workout sometimes, but don’t stick to an organized training regimine. They spend much of their time sedentary. Then they’re friend invites them to play softball.

The first couple games are fine. Then in the 5th game, it’s the bottom of the 9th and the team is down 2 runs. So the old baseball movement and mental patterns return. Only the body is much different than it was 15 years ago. Use it or lose it.

The guy gets a hit, but during his sprint to first base he tears his hamstring.

He gets home disappointed and wonders why.

Prevention would entail a structured training regime and a focus on positive lifestyle factors (sleep, stress, diet, etc.).

Recovery would involve progressive loading of the hamstring to strengthen the muscle, collagen, fascia, etc. In other worse, the hamstring needs to be built back up.

This is a great exercise to start with this.