I Pulled My Hamstring and I Still Feel Pain When I Pick Up the Pace

Hamstring pain can return when you pick up the pace, with a pulling or sore feeling that shows the injured area is not ready for faster running yet.

You may feel fine while walking or running slowly, only to notice your hamstring start pulling as you increase your speed. The pain may appear gradually as you pick up the pace or suddenly when you try to run faster than your hamstring is currently comfortable with.

This can be frustrating because the injury may seem almost gone during easier activity. But if faster running consistently brings the pain back, your hamstring is still sensitive to the added demand and needs more time before higher-speed activity feels comfortable.

Your Hamstring Starts Pulling As You Run Faster

The hamstring may feel fine at an easy pace but start pulling as you increase your speed.

You may notice the first signs as tightness or soreness in the back of your thigh, followed by more noticeable pain if you continue trying to accelerate. The change in pace can expose the problem even when slower running does not bother you.

The Pain Returns After Your Pace Increases

Your hamstring may feel better again when you slow down, but the pain can return each time you speed up.

You might be able to finish an easy run comfortably and assume you are ready to progress, only to have the same spot hurt when you push the pace again. This pattern can keep repeating because faster running is still more demanding than what your recovering hamstring currently tolerates.

Why Your Hamstring Hurts When Running Faster

Your hamstring has a hard time healing when blood flow and circulation are limited.

Tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues naturally receive less blood supply than many other parts of the body. Because of this, they often take longer to heal after repeated stress or injury, leaving you more vulnerable to lingering pain and a cycle of reinjury.

When circulation through the area remains limited, injured tissues have a harder time receiving the vital oxygen and nutrients they need to repair and heal. This can leave your hamstring feeling stiff, tight, weak, or painful during everyday movement and activity.

What Can Help Your Hamstring Feel Better

Your hamstring starts feeling better when blood flow and circulation improve.

Chinese herbs have been used for centuries to promote healthy blood flow and circulation. Their medicinal properties help break up stagnant blood and fluids that remain trapped around injured tissues, interfering with circulation. As circulation improves, blood flows more freely through the area, allowing those tissues to receive the oxygen and nutrients they need to heal properly.

Topical herbal remedies made with these Chinese herbs can help relieve pain while improving blood flow and circulation to injured tissues. The right product depends on your symptoms and whether you're in the acute or chronic stage of recovery.

If you have pain, swelling, inflammation, or bruising, Acute Sinew Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by increasing circulation and dispersing stagnant blood and fluids around the injured area to speed recovery. During the acute stage of healing, getting circulation moving early allows injured tissues to receive the fresh blood, oxygen, and nutrients they need to repair and heal.

If your injured area is especially swollen, red, or warm to the touch after a recent injury or flare-up, Sinew Herbal Ice is also used to reduce swelling and inflammation while restoring normal circulation so you can quickly regain range of motion. While traditional ice is commonly used to reduce swelling, Sinew Herbal Ice acts as an ice alternative to reduce swelling and inflammation while also dispersing accumulated blood and fluids to speed the healing process.

If you no longer have swelling or inflammation, but still have pain, stiffness, weakness, or sensitivity in cold and damp weather, Chronic Sinew Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by strongly stimulating circulation and increasing blood supply to injured tendons and ligaments to promote their healing. This is especially important because tendons and ligaments naturally receive less blood supply, which is why chronic injuries can take longer to heal.

If you have residual pain and stiffness, or the area becomes more painful in cold weather, Sinew Injury Poultice is also used to significantly stimulate circulation to injured tendons and ligaments to further promote their healing. By strongly increasing circulation, it counteracts the reduced blood flow caused by cold weather that commonly aggravates chronic tendon and ligament injuries.

If you exercise, play sports, or do other strenuous activities, Sinew Sports Massage Oil warms and stimulates muscles for exertion and relieves muscle tightness and soreness after activity. Warming and preparing your muscles before activity can improve flexibility, enhance performance, and reduce the risk of injury.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may also find these commonly asked questions helpful.

Why does my hamstring still hurt when I pick up the pace?

Faster running places more demand on your recovering hamstring, which can bring back pain or pulling that is absent at an easier pace.

Why does my hamstring feel fine when I run slowly but hurt when I run faster?

Your hamstring may tolerate slower running while still being unable to handle the added demand of a faster pace without pain.

Should I keep running if my hamstring hurts when I increase my speed?

If increasing your pace causes pain, slow down or stop rather than pushing through the pain and give your hamstring more time to recover.

Can hamstring pain return after I thought the injury was healed?

Yes. Pain can return when you increase your activity too quickly, particularly when moving from easy running to faster running.

How do I know when my hamstring is ready to run faster?

Your hamstring should tolerate easier running and gradual increases in activity without pain before you return to faster running.

The information provided here is intended to help you better understand your symptoms and recovery, but it is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Persistent, severe, or worsening symptoms should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.