Hamstring strength vs. flexibility

[Guest]

My 14 year old soocer playing son injured both hamstrings (high and deep in the butt) in the last year over two outdoor seasons. Also had a 7 inch growth spurt in the middle of it all. Mostly recovered from pain and getting running speed back. But not 100% I've got him committed to a pre practice-game routine of running and dynamic stretches including lunges, sqauts, and cycling movements and post game static stretches. He might do some weight training a couple days a week for strength. Problem is this: still very inflexible with very tight hamstrings. Static stretching seems to hurt him deep in the butt still. So he can't do a lot there. Occasionally will do some assisted stretching to see for myself to find that it's very tight and this most likely leaves him sore the next day or two. Also afraid to stretch too much cause that may lead to reinjury. I'm telling him to watch himself at the end of practices when he is most likely to re-injure himself. Bottom line - strength is almost back with limited flexibility. Is this just a growth thing that will straighten out (pun intended)? Are we missing something? Are we headed right into another hamstring problem that will knock him out?

[Thomas Kurz]

Take your son to a good massage therapist for deep tissue massage. Otherwise reinjury seems likely.