I broke myself

[RyanA]

So I pulled my hamstring a little last night playing basketball. Perhaps more ofa strain than a pull but I am forced to take some time off because of it.

It is the same leg as my tightest hip and my sore knee so I am now convinced that the whole deal is screwing me up.

Any advice on this stuff?

Anyone have any experience with ART?

[fish]

A friend of mine swears by active release therapy.

My take on it is that sometimes the magic works and sometimes it does not.

I suggest that you check to be sure that the procedure can not do you harm

I know at least one person with disc injury who submitted to manipulation which caused them harm.

If there is no practical way that the therapy can hurt you, then why not give it a try ?

As for tightness, I don't do stop and go very often any more, but when I do, I seem to get away with it.

I have two or three stretching moves that I do on a regular basis to keep loose.

I can comfortably sit in a deep, flat footed squat for extended periods of time. Learned it from a friend of mine who spent too much time in southeast asia. It is very relaxing and worth the effort.

I also like to do what I call a weighted toe touch.

www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/Hamstrings/BBStraightLegDeadlift.html

The weight has to be very, very light. This is less a strengthing exercise than a stretching move.

I've got a move to loosen the hips, too.

Stand in an athletic position. Rotate the torso, first in one direction and then in the other in a continuous smooth movement. allowing the relaxed arms to swing naturally out, away, and around. First ten or twenty, let the head turn with the torso. After that turn the head with the torso. Keep rotating the torso, but as you turn to the left, carry your weight across to and over the left foot, unweighting - without moving - the right foot, and as you turn to the right, carry your weight across to and over the right foot, unweighting without moving the left foot.

Back and forth, back and forth.

Give this move a try. If you like it, and if you would like to know more, I can describe a variation which increases its effectiveness.

Sometimes the magic works.

fish

[fish]

correction.

first ten or twenty, and every once in a while after that, keep the eyes forward and do not let the head turn with the torso.

after that, and most of the time, let the head turn with the torso.