stretching pains

[tangsoodo]

When I stretch the side of my right leg I can only get so far before it starts hurting bad (not the pain that you feel when your stretching, more of a pain that feels like if I go any further my muscle is going to tear.) This has happened since I started doing karate and I still can barely touch the floor with my hands when I do a split. All of my other muscles are flexible, I won a gold medal in a tournament for an 8'1" jump front kick, but I can barely kick to my solar plexes when I side kick. I am 15 years old, so I think I am a bit too young for it to be anything serious. Should I try to stretch through the knot that I feel when I am stretching? Has anybody had anything similar to this?

[Menjo]

It sounds like you just tore a muscle, however i dont know the correct way to properly heal the issue, except for rest of course...

[IronWarrior]

First off when did your start karate??? sounds like it could be 'acute bursitis'? 'lightly stretching the area' and applying ice and a muscle ointment before training may help.. if it keeps up go see your doctor and get him to refer you to a 'sports injury doctor'

[shogeri]

Perhaps you need to see a qualified sport physician.

Take care of yourself, and don't push it.

Train smart, not hard.

Good luck!

[AikiGuy]

I dont know if you can do the light stretching that IronWarrior suggested but until you know exactly what kind of injury you have, I would recommend not stretching that particular area at all until you know more. It may be fine in a few days or it could get much worse if you stress the area further. If you are taking classes, tell your instructor so he will not expect you to follow the class for a while. If you don't know what is causing the pain and it persists for more than a week or two, you should absolutely see a doctor. Good luck.

[IronWarrior]

Where exactly is the pain? is it in the base or center of the muscle? or at an insertion 'where 2 muscles meet' that would answer alot of questions if its serious or not also.