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Sports Medicine
updated: Aug 30, 2012, 8:33 AM

My wife has had a nagging hamstring problem for the past four years. Somewhere along the line, she aggravated it and didn't give it enough rest by stopping her regular gym routine.

She has tried massage, acupuncture & physical therapy with none offering longterm relief. She is ready to seek the advice of a medical specialist. We're wondering if a sports medicine expert is the one she needs. If you or any loved ones have had a similar problem and can recommend the name of a great doc in the area, please let us know. Thanks!

Places People Are Talking About:

Advanced Pain Solutions	Alan Edmundson	Dr. Archie Allen
Elite Performance and Rehab

What People Are Saying:

MTNDRIVER	2012-08-30 09:10 AM
Physical therapist Alan Edmundson at Alta Orthopedics is very good (associated with an orthopedic medical practice that is also very good). Have only used him for shoulder and knee problems, no hamstring issues. But he's super-knowledgeable about the physiology. The only thing with sports medicine specialists, who are all orthopedists as far as I know, is that they all seem to be surgeons....not sure a hamstring pull falls under their area of care. They might try to make a case that it does, though! Yoga can be a real help, just have to take the stretches slowly, not overstretch or the problem just gets worse. And pilates, too.
COMMENT 314284P	2012-08-30 09:51 AM
OP here - Great, first post with sound opinion, thanks! Anybody else out there echo Alta Orthopedics successes?
COMMENT 314289	2012-08-30 09:58 AM
I urge her to continue the physical therapy route, Alan Edmundson is wonderful, saw him years ago for a hip problem, I also highly recommend Jean DeBettignies as well. She has helped me over the years with hamstring, back and shoulder issues.
COMMENT 314292	2012-08-30 10:01 AM
Dr. Archie Allen is a chiropractor and applied kinesiologist in SB for a long time with a track record of healing. His approach is conservative and works. The other side of any chronic problem is what is in your physical environment that is aggravating/causing the problem. Could be food sensitivities or mold or chemical sensitivities. After tens of thousands of dollars I learned that everything worked for a while but nothing cured me. It was because I was in a mold infested home with no visible sign of mold but lots of signs of water damage and I didn't know to make the connection. Muscle cramps, especially in the middle of the night, are a sure sign of mold in your home.
COMMENT 314331	2012-08-30 10:47 AM
No direct experience with the specific injury you are describing, but highly recommend Dr. Mark Brisby. My husband and I have gone to him for various injuries; knee, shoulder, and trust his expertise. This is a link to his website: www.thetrainingroom.org/index.html Whatever approach or professional you decide on, good luck.
AQUAHOLIC	2012-08-30 10:55 AM
I suffered a hamstring injury years ago, it took FOREVER to heal fully, I would say in the neighborhood of about 3 years, so not completely unusual. Not knowing what age and physical condition of your wife, but I will assume good, considering she is still going to the gym. I would suggest continuing physical therapy if that is helping, but I would suggest altering her 'routine' and adding in strength training (with a certified person, i.e. trainer) to build the core, and muscles of the back. Often times, there is a an underlying weakness in these areas that can exacerbate other problems (hamstring, sciatica, etc.). I know from my own personal experience this approach works very well, it can even be life changing as it was for my husband who suffered chronic low back pain for years. Good luck, and do be sure to check out any strength training person you may employ very carefully.
COMMENT 314340	2012-08-30 11:03 AM
Go see Dr. Benjamin Holt @ S.M.A.R.T. Chiropractic.. He is probably the most educated person in Santa Barbara when it comes to sports medicine & therapies.
COMMENT 314380P	2012-08-30 12:42 PM
Get a script from your Dr then see Elite Performance, Montecito or Goleta. Mike, Jeff, Chrissy...all top notch.
KIDS	2012-08-30 01:15 PM
I second Alan Edmundsen!
COMMENT 314534	2012-08-30 05:55 PM
I second Elite Performance and Rehab.!
COMMENT 314564	2012-08-30 07:41 PM
Has she had any fluoroquinolone antibiotics in the last year or so? Linked to tendon problems, can be quite severe...
COMMENT 314629P	2012-08-31 06:42 AM
The physical therapist/kinesiologist at Prevail Conditioning on Santa Barbara at Haley helped with a similar problem for me last summer.
COMMENT 314635	2012-08-31 07:00 AM
My son is a football player and hurt his hamstring really bad. We used the physical gait training of Dr. Brisby and Dr. Boone for actual chiropractic. (if I recall correctly, Dr. Boone sent us to Dr. Brisby for the analysis.) They worked well together and my son plays university ball now. Good luck.
COMMENT 314667	2012-08-31 08:39 AM
I third Elite Performance and Rehab! Suffered hamstring injury lasting months. Elite Performance (Mike or Amanda) got me back up and running allowing me to complete a marathon months later.
CURIOUS	2012-08-31 10:13 AM
I would like to second the recommendation of Dr. Archie Allen, who seems to me to perform minor miracles routinely. He is very knowledgeable, highly competent, and gracious in manner. With something like the hamstring problem I would make him my first stop. If that didn't work, then consider something else. But start with Archie.
COMMENT 314771	2012-08-31 02:17 PM
Mary at Advanced Pain Solutions(.org) is very good with chronic injuries like yours.
COMMENT 314825	2012-08-31 05:01 PM
Iyengar Yoga will take care of it. Simple as that. Find a CERTIFIED Iyengar yoga teacher [there is an Iyengar Yoga Studio on De La Vina Street]. It cured my ham-string problems and I could not have stood it for four years [like the poster's wife] if I hadn't. No need to be in pain, really!
COMMENT 314929	2012-09-01 11:48 AM
Dr. Gloria Kaye Ph.D has helped me immensely with a recent wrist injury - she is a healer, licensed massage therapist and local yoga instructor. She has helped many athletes and others relieve their pain. You can take a look at her work on her website - I highly recommend her, especially if traditional methods of care are not helping aide your wife's recovery.
COMMENT 315323	2012-09-02 04:15 PM
Hoping for someone amazing here but I'm unimpressed. And it seems to me that Alta Orthopedics/Alan is trolling for free reviews, re-read the OPs post and reply.