The morning had just a touch of chill in the air—perfect weather for flag-football. We were on defense and close to our end zone. It was one of the few times that I have been in exactly the right spot at the right time. The ball sailed out from the quarterback, spiraling toward the receiver. A quick lunge forward put me into position for an interception. A scant few seconds of running and I was in the end zone celebrating a touchdown. (We won’t mention the fact that I was playing with a group of older, out-of-shape guys who were less than inclined to chase me the length of our 50 yard field and were more than willing to end the game after the play.)

It wasn’t until after the game ended that I noticed my hamstring tightening up. The tightness gradually turned into sharp pain. Ah, yes, the infamous pulled hamstring—bane of sprinting athletes the world over. That sprain kept me out of action for quite awhile and still haunts me today.

For those of us who have explored the exquisite world of muscle injuries, we can attest to how much we don’t want to make a return voyage. Muscle strains of any type can be easily avoided, and, in cases where strains happen despite preventative efforts, they can also be self-treated for speedy recoveries.