Question
I was completing the stretch for triathletes and runners where you lay on your back and straighten one leg toward ceiling and then gently pull the leg across your body with a wrap while remaining on your back to stretch your hips and iliotibial band when I felt a sudden pain in my upper left butt cheek near the back of my hip. It now feels burny and a little weak and unstable now. Should I just ice and take anti-inflammatories or is this more serious? I'm in a decent amount of pain, basic constant burn with sharper when I move in a way that causes hip ab or aduction.

Answer

The SuperCat Stretch Neumann,

You've just discovered the fallacy of stretching.

Muscles get tight (and appear to need stretching) because conditioned postural reflexes hold them tight.

You can't stretch away a postural reflex; you can retrain it.

I know this goes contrary to all the experts and trainers who advocate stretching.  Can't be helped.

It's easy to resolve.

Please see my article,

http://www.somatics.com/stretch.htm

Then, get the program of somatic exercise that can free you from muscular contraction from conditioned postural reflexes ("The Cat Stretch" -- no cat, no stretching -- a new approach to flexibility and strength; see Lesson 4 of the program).

with regard,
Lawrence Gold