Bad Legs

[robharper]

I'll try and give as much information as possible without boring anyones socks off(i said try!). Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I'm in the Army and therefore I'm not keen to spend money on a private physio over crimbo when I will have access to one at the start of January. At the same time I am keen to continue training and thought this was probably the best place to get some advice.

I'll try and give you a small background before going into my moan! I do a moderate amount of exercise a week. Mostly cycling(about 150 miles a week, and racing in the season) and some weights, generally legs. I used to do alot more running but turned to cycling about a year ago. I must add my flexibility is poor. I'm 23, 5' 11, and 80KG.

I went running today and this happened for the second time. After getting to about the 3 mile point in some interval training i was experiencing uncomfortable tightness in my quads, hamstrings and calfs. It got worse in my quads to the point where i thought they were pulled. It was particularly bad down the outside of both quads. Then when walking off i started to cramp in my calfs. I am very particular with my hydration and taking on the right electrolytes etc when trianing so I feel it couldnt be caused by that. When i warmed down it got really uncomfortable in my quads and they almost felt like they had pulled.

I dont have a self diagnosis. I think it could be down to lots of cycling and a lack of impact training leading to terrible conditioning. I am going to try lots of stretching(any suggestions appreciated) and I was thinking of getting some sports massages on my lower legs. Its bloomin annoying as I am in fairly good fitness at present and I need to run every now and again because of the job and dont want to be constantly injured.

Any advice would be great,

Thanks
Rob

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[dr.rana]

hi rob
in my opinion ,you are doing all exercises beyond you body needs,and you are not taking good diet ,which is making lake of vitamin c and calcium in your body .these conditions are making your muscels pull and tight .
wishes
dr.rana

[gcoe]

Hi Rob

I think Dr.rana is jumping to a conclusion before knowing what is going on. In fact this could be due to a number of things that may not be musculoskeletal in nature, which is really NOT the realm of knowledge of a physio. making nutritional recommendations while can be very sound are not part of the cope of practice of a physio. I would therefore would be not want to provide a "diagnosis" or advice based on what you have written. However if you came to me as a physio my thinking would be:

These are quite extensive symptoms - three major muscle groups at least

You are young and presumably very fit so you shouldn't be having extensive symptoms like this so early into your training - I take it you are not very far into your level of exercise before you are getting symptoms.

I would see the Dr and get a good medical workup and thereby rule out other diseases before seeking a musculoskeletal diagnosis.

Muscle tightness can give you aches and pains but you should be really well warmed up by 3 miles so I think it is unlikely be due to that. However if you've been checked out medically and all seems well then a detailed musculoskeletal assessment that includes examining your running on a treadmill is a good way to go - it is possble you are getting some sort of overuse problems but a proper biomechanical assessment is needed. Again I think you need to be assessed properly and not rely on advice on the internet. If you went to your Dr would you not be able to get physio that way?

In the mean time I suggest you avoid running as your main aerobic activity - certainly stop short of the symptoms.