Glute/Hamstring Insertion injury

FitChic4Life · 03-16-2009, 08:28 AM

Hi all,

This is my first post here as I found this site as a googled glute injury. Hope you can help. I train at a gym 5-6 days per week doing bodypart splits. When I train legs I do front squats with bb on my back, SL & OLY deadlifts, 360lb leg presses. I enjoy the step mill and the elliptical. I usually do sprints and weighted lunges in the basketball court at the gym.

I knew immediately when this injury/strain happened as I was running on the beach. I was properly warmed up. I guess it was a combo of unfamiliar training territory, unstable surface, power, etc. Anyhoo, I stopped running and did a small stretch to assess where the pain was. I have determined that my hamstring may not be involved because I can do ham curls, although I have not done any leg work since the incident.

In the first 3 days, I applied Biofreeze, took Advil, and had an epsom bath. On Friday, I had a light weight deep tissue massage. All have helped in some way.

Based on my functionality, I feel that this is a minor injury, but I am not certain. I would like to know what my injury is technically described as, whether stretching is advised or not, and if I can continue my cardio work and lighter strength training.

1. When did the pain begin?
A week ago on Sun 3/8

2. What were you doing at the time?
Sprinting on the beach

3. Where, anatomically, is the pain?
Left glute, deep in the fold, in front of the bone.

4. What does the pain feel like? Sharp? Dull? Aching? Stabbing? Shooting?
I would describe it as aching.

5. Is the pain constant, or intermittent, or only on certain motions?
It is constant muscluar stiffness, achiness(sp), tension

6. What motions make your pain worse?
My pain does not actually worsen, I just feel the achiness more in any position that stretches my glute.

7. What, if anything, makes your pain better?
I feel that the massage and the warmth from the shower/bath makes it feels more flexible.

8. Does your pain radiate to any other part of your body?
I have felt some minor pain in my ITB.

9. What things could you do before, that you cannot do now because of your injury?
I have not been able to sit comfortably for a long period of time without changing positions....particularly if I cross my left leg over my right. I do not have full flexibility to bend forward. Although normal movements do require that I bend forward, I know I would not be able to do a weighted stiff-legged deadlift with full ROM.

10. What is your main concern regarding the pain and its consequences?
I am a fitness addict. I am planning on competing in my first figure competition in the next 6 weeks. I find I am unable to train my legs in the way that I would like.

11. Have you ever injured that part of your body before? If so, how?
NO

12. Is your pain getting worse over time? And if so, how much worse over what time period?
No, it is not getting worse. Initially, I experienced a dramatic improvement in ROM. Now, over the past 3 days the improvement has stalled.

Thanks for your time and suggestions.

UConnJulie · 03-16-2009, 09:29 AM

Sounds like a glute strain. But also could be deep adductor. Or even referred from your back.
If you are planning to compete in 6 weeks, I'd recommend you see a qualified professional in person ASAP. Preferably someone dealing in sports injuries who has extensive knowledge of figure competition and weight training.

FitChic4Life · 03-16-2009, 12:08 PM

Queen Julie, Thanks for your quick response. I am thinking it is a glute strain also. I am searching for a sports injury pro now. Hope to have it checked out soon.

jchiero · 03-16-2009, 05:09 PM

julie did a good job with possoble diagnosis, but I have another question that might seem strange:

when was his picture taken?

here's why i ask...you seem to train very hard whitch almost always leads to some postural distortions. i see a few postural distortions in this pic, but want to make sure this pic is recent and reflects your body currently.

identifying your postural distortions and fixing the imbalance(s) is the only way to avoid this in the future. i assume you want to continue to train hard for a long time without pain...

FitChic4Life · 03-16-2009, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jchiero

julie did a good job with possoble diagnosis, but I have another question that might seem strange:

when was his picture taken?

here's why i ask...you seem to train very hard whitch almost always leads to some postural distortions. i see a few postural distortions in this pic, but want to make sure this pic is recent and reflects your body currently.

identifying your postural distortions and fixing the imbalance(s) is the only way to avoid this in the future. i assume you want to continue to train hard for a long time without pain...

This photo is recent. I am curious about your POV. Please share.

jchiero · 03-17-2009, 02:49 PM

the things i noticed are subtle, and may only be relevant to this picture. please remember that i can only make judgements by what i see in this pic. definitely go see someone who has expertise in assessing and fixing muscle imbalances and postural distortion:

- it looks like most of your weight is on your left leg (i can see the striations in your left quad area, but don't see the same muscle activation on the right. it could be that you have shifted your wieght to left to avoid pain, or that you were walking and had not yet shifted your weight back to the right side. either way your hip is migrating slightly to the left.

- as i move up your left side above your hip i see that the distance between your arm and your side is slim compared to the distance between the two on the right. it is likely that your lat and/or quadratus lumborum on the left side are overactive. again this could possibly be your body moving away from pain or just the way you walk. either way i would take a closer look at those areas.

- the other thing that i see is that the front of your shorts are very wrinkly just below your hip line and toward your inner thigh. this tells me that your hip flexors are tight. i also can tell this by the fact that your wastline is not flat.

these types of distortions could easily lead to a glute strain. along with your it band, i bet your piriformis is also very tight and overactive.

by the way you look great and it's clear to me that you train very hard. even minor muscle imbalances can lead to injury when explosive movements are made on an unstable surface.

the bottom line is that for you to continue your training pain free you definitely want work through these imbalances.

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