Dodging a Bullet - How Exerbotics Helped Me Benchmark my State after a Perceived Injury

I typically strength train in the winter and gradually incorporate running in the spring through summer.  This summer, my strength programs have included the Exerbotics Leg Press, Chest Press / Row and various barbell exercises twice a week.  Running programs have been a combination of long runs (up to 5.5 miles), interval training and speed runs (usually one of each per week). 

Scenario: On July 23rd while on a 4 mile tempo run, my right hamstring was unusually sore.  I experienced some soreness and tightness for the next 24 hours. 

July 25th: (A beautiful day), I began a cautious run with plenty of warm-up.  During a moderate first mile, the right hamstring was still tight and sore.  At about 7 minutes into the run, I was loosening up and able to get into a better rhythm.  While gaining speed, I felt the dreaded hamstring "grab"; the same feeling you get when you are about to significantly pull a muscle.  The run was instantly over with significant pain and discomfort.  It obviously was not a sever pull but concerning none-the-less. 

Strong discomfort was present with the hamstring for several days. 

July 26th: No Training

July 27th: Moderate strength training day, primarily upper body and lower body range of motion with light free weight loads. 

July 28th: No Training

July 29th:  Soreness and tightness have significantly diminished.  Strength training day to test strength loss in the leg.  

Training Conditions:

Singe Leg Leg Press

6 Repetitions per Leg (First set displayed only)

Intensity: 85% of Max Effort

Results (Compared to Exerbotics strength training on July 14th):

Illustrated in the chart below, contrary to a muscle injury, all meaningful statistical categories showed an improvement from July 14th (pre-injury) to July 29th (4 days post-injury). 

Given the pain, soreness and stiffness, why were the strength results IMPROVED from a pre-injury training session? 

Hypothesis:

I questioned the likelihood of a hamstring pull during a moderate distance run and theorized that this might be a symptom of the true problem (nerve or back related?).  Having been a victim of sever hamstring pulls in the past, I knew that any muscle damage would result in some degree of strength loss. 

Although a post-injury Max test was not performed, I attribute the training improvements to a combination of the following:

• ·        Both legs improved in performance.  The Leg Press was performed as the first exercise on July 29th and, although not documented, the July 14th set was most likely completed in the middle of a strength training session.
• ·        The July 29th training session followed 4 days of lower body rest.  The July 14th training session followed a high intensity running day.
• ·        The muscle did not see any major fiber damage leading to the probable conclusion that the source of the problem is elsewhere. 

Conclusion:

Proceed training with caution.  Full release for strength training with monitored running while increasing volume and speed based on soreness.  

	Left Leg			Right Leg
Category	14-Jul	29-Jul	% Difference	14-Jul	29-Jul	% Difference
Total Work	10279	10456	2%	9585	9929	3%
Peak Concentric	332	349	5%	310	322	4%
Peak Eccentric	548	531	-3%	490	526	7%
Average Concentric	217	227	4%	200	207	3%
Average Eccentric	345	353	2%	323	344	6%