UAN:212 Article type:-->Hamstrings are unusual in that they pass over two joints, the hip and the knee. They are therefore most likely to be injured when the hip is bent and the knee fully straightened. Further stretching may cause an injury

Q During a recent run, my left hamstring seemed to become quite tight. I’m worried that I’ve picked up a strain, but as I’m training for the Flora London Marathon, I’m reluctant to see a physio who’ll just tell me to ‘rest’. At the moment I

by helping you cover more miles with less effort,” says strength and running coach Paul Collins, author of Dynamic Dumbbell Training (£14.94, Meyer & Meyer). “A weakness in these muscles is often a precursor to injury.”To shore up your black spots and make

lean back to increase the stretch in the front of your thigh. Take care if you have ankle problems, and stay tall in your upper body to avoid compressing your lower back. 2. Bent-leg standing hamstrings stretchBe thoroughly warmed up before you attempt

, after a 10-minute warm-up jog.Ease into each stretch: don’t bounce or force it.Before speedwork, hold each stretch for 10-15 seconds. After a run, hold each stretch for 30 seconds; repeat once or twice on each leg

would find it hard to credit anything other than our thighs. And for good reason. The muscles that make up our upper legs drive our running – whether we’re sprinting for 100 yards or battling our way through 26.2 miles. Run enough hills and you

– to 12 o’clock – with your right foot, lowering yourself into a lunge position. Return to the standing position. Keeping your supporting leg in the same position, lunge forward again, this time diagonally to 1 o’clock. Repeat the lunge to 2 o

disrobed and lying beneath a sheet. A massage generally lasts between 30 and 90 minutes. Case study When Sophie Wright, 16, pulled out of a recent 400m race with a stiff, sore back after just 10 strides, she feared the worst. She’d thought back problems

and feet. Stretches your hamstrings, calves, Achilles tendons, back and shoulders. 2. Lying spinal twistStart on your back with both legs straight. Hug your right knee in towards your chest, and hook your right foot behind your left knee. Then roll to your

Q I’ve been suffering from a very sore Achilles tendon and hamstring problems in my left leg for nearly a year. I can still run on it, but at the end of the day I can’t wait to jump in a warm bath because of the pain. Oddly, it gets worse if I stand