I Pulled My Hamstring Sprinting and It Still Hurts When I Run

Your hamstring may still hurt when you run after a sprinting injury because faster running continues to stress the recovering muscle before it is ready for full-speed movement.

When you pull your hamstring while sprinting, you may feel the injury immediately and then notice that running continues to bring the pain back. Walking may feel fairly comfortable, but increasing your speed can make the hamstring tighten, pull, or hurt again.

You may also notice that the hamstring feels different from one day to the next. It can seem much better during normal activities but become sore again when you try to run, especially if you accelerate, lengthen your stride, or attempt to return to sprinting.

The Hamstring Pulls Again As You Increase Your Running Speed

Faster running can bring back the same pulling feeling in your hamstring.

You may feel little or nothing while walking, then notice pain as you pick up the pace or push into a faster stride. A recently strained hamstring can remain sensitive to the quicker, stronger movements involved in running even when everyday movement feels much easier.

Your Hamstring Feels Better Until You Try Running Again

The pain may settle down during rest but return when you resume running.

You might feel encouraged because the hamstring feels comfortable during daily activities, only to have the soreness return after a short run. That pattern can mean the area has improved but still needs more time before it tolerates the demands of running without becoming painful again.

Why Your Hamstring Still Hurts When Running

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 run after pulling it sprinting?

Your hamstring may still be recovering from the strain and can become painful again when faster running places more demand on the injured muscle.

Why does my hamstring feel better walking but hurt when I run?

Walking is less demanding than running, so your hamstring may feel comfortable during normal movement while still becoming painful when you increase your speed or stride.

Should I keep running if my pulled hamstring still hurts?

If running brings back pain from the hamstring injury, continuing at the same intensity can aggravate the area. Reducing activity and allowing the injury to recover is generally more appropriate.

Can a pulled hamstring hurt again after it starts feeling better?

Yes. Your hamstring can feel much better during daily activities and still become painful when you return to faster or more demanding running before it has fully recovered.

How long does a pulled hamstring take to stop hurting when running?

Recovery varies with the severity of the strain. Pain that continues or returns when you run is a reason to avoid rushing back to full-speed activity and consider professional evaluation.

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.