Hamstring Injury Rehab

[mab05k]

Coach:

I injured my hamstring last Wednesday playing soccer. I came across your post about injuries while researching pulled hamstrings. My question is; is the squat the most appropriate exercise for this injury, or should I be doing deadlifts (to more directly work my hamstring)?

Thanks,
Bos

[Mark Rippetoe]

Which exercise have you had the most experience with? This may not be the time to learn a brand new exercise.

[mab05k]

I have had a good amount of experience with both, been crossfitting for over a year. The last few days I've been doing the lightweight deadlifts and they seem to be working. My hamstrings have been somewhat sore, which I assume is good and means progress.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Use whichever one you can best use safely to get a lot of lactate to build toward the end of the set. Might be glute/hams, back extensions, squats or deadlifts., maybe even RDLs.