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Why do I feel tightness in my hamstring?

Hamstring sprain or cramps

“For several years I have felt tightness and soreness in my right hamstring. I don’t remember hurting myself, so what could be the problem?”

Based on your description, it seems we can rule out an actual hamstring injury. There are several other possible sources of your pain and they all involve referral of pain.

A lumbar facet joint with restricted mobility can result in tightness in the hamstring.

Decreased neutral mobility of certain lumbar nerve roots, or the sciatic nerve, may result in hamstring pain.

Trigger points in certain hop muscles may refer pain to various areas of the leg.

Spine arthritic changes can result in inflammation, which then may refer pain into the leg.

This list is only a few possibilities. Consultation with a physical therapist to determine the cause of your pain would be beneficial. Techniques I often use for these problems include neural mobilization, dry needling, joint mobilization, and various stretching and strengthening exercised.

Tim Minnick, PT

Plantar Faciitis: Triathlete Magazine Article Recommends ASTYM

EXCEL clinicians at every location are certified through the official ASTYM continuing education physical therapy courses. To see locations or additional diagnosis that benefit from ASTYM treatments click here.
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The April 2011 edition of Triathlete magazine on-line talks about chronic plantar fasciitis and how to treat it (“A Heel Up”). One of the recommended treatments to resolve chronic plantar fasciitis, or plantar fasciosis, is ASTYM treatment. Here is why:

For years, chronic plantar fasciitis was considered an inflammatory condition and treatments were aimed at reducing the inflammation that was thought to be the cause. However, treatment aimed at reducing inflammation to cure plantar fasciitis had only limited success. That puzzled health care providers until it was recently discovered that almost all cases of chronic plantar fasciitis are caused by degeneration of the plantar fascia (not due to inflammation as previously thought), and treatment should involve stimulating regeneration of the affected tissue. Here is a link to a research article talking about the histologic findings showing degeneration of the plantar fascia in cases of chronic plantar fasciitis: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12756315.

Very few approaches focus on regenerating healthy tissue. However, a good treatment option that regularly stimulates regeneration of strong, healthy tissue and has a high rate of success for plantar fasciitis is ASTYM treatment. You can see what ASTYM treatment is like by clicking here: http://astym.com/video

Excel Raises Hundreds for Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure

Our team of eleven ladies participated in the 2010 Race for the Cure with an estimated 12,000 registrants to join the fight against breast cancer. Excel Therapy raised $565 dollars towards breast cancer research, education, screenings and treatment for the uninsured and medically underserved.

Team Excel

Amanda Webb, Ashley Barker, Marley Bobsein, Xiomara Tallent, Janice Wagoner, Amber Buchman, Karla Argo, Hannah Bledsoe, Kelly Watkins, Holli Cunningham and Nikki Beasley