Every sporting season brings a surge of enthusiasm, competition, and—unfortunately for many athletes—muscular strains. While some strains may seem sudden or random, they often have deeper roots in how the body moves, stabilises, and compensates. At Movement Therapy, we take a whole-body approach to understanding injury, which helps us go beyond surface-level symptoms to find the “why” behind the strain.

Here are three of the most common muscular strains we see during the sporting season—and what’s usually driving them.

1. Hamstring Strains

Why it happens:
Hamstring strains are notorious in sports that require sprinting, sudden stops, or quick changes in direction. While it's easy to blame tightness or overuse, the underlying cause is often poor pelvic and trunk control. When the pelvis isn’t well-supported or the hips lack proper control through movement, the hamstrings are forced to overwork to stabilise the lower body—especially during acceleration or deceleration.

Common movement contributors:

• Poor trunk and pelvic stability
• Inhibited glute function leading to hamstring overuse
• Lack of dynamic control in single-leg stance

What we look for:
We assess how the body transfers load from the spine through the hips and into the legs. If an athlete can’t stabilize their pelvis effectively during movement, we know the hamstrings are picking up the slack.

2. Groin (Adductor) Strains

Why it happens:
Groin strains often show up in multidirectional sports like soccer, hockey, and basketball. Athletes may have strong adductors, but strength alone isn’t enough—coordination and timing matter. When the core and hips don’t work in harmony, the adductors may react too late or too forcefully, leading to strain.

Common movement contributors:

• Poor coordination between the trunk and lower limbs
• Delayed or inefficient weight transfer
• Inadequate hip mobility or control during lateral movement

What we look for:
Rather than just stretching the groin, we analyze how the body moves as a unit. Often, a lack of proper sequencing between the torso and lower extremity sets the adductors up for failure.

3. Calf Strains

Why it happens:
The calves play a critical role in propulsion and shock absorption, particularly in running and jumping sports. But when the body isn’t effectively managing load from above—like from the hips or spine—the calves end up doing more than they should. This is especially true in athletes who lack full ankle mobility or proper core support during dynamic movement.

Common movement contributors:

• Limited ankle dorsiflexion and foot stability
• Poor proximal (core) control during locomotion
• Over-reliance on distal musculature for propulsion

What we look for:
We assess the entire kinetic chain—from the foot’s ability to control the ground to the core’s role in supporting efficient movement. A strain in the calf often reflects a bigger issue in how load is being handled by the body as a whole.

Prevention Starts with Movement Awareness

Muscular strains often point to a breakdown in movement quality, not just bad luck or poor conditioning. At Movement Therapy, we focus on identifying movement inefficiencies before they become injuries. By improving how the body moves as an integrated system—through breath, posture, and coordination—we help athletes not only recover but return stronger and more resilient.

‍