Health and Safety Exercises to Prevent Hamstring Injuries By Elizabeth Quinn Elizabeth Quinn is an exercise physiologist, sports medicine writer, and fitness consultant for corporate wellness and rehabilitation clinics. Learn about our editorial process Elizabeth Quinn Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Erin Pereira, PT, DPT on October 14, 2020 linkedin Erin Pereira, PT, DPT, is a board-certified clinical specialist in orthopedic physical therapy. Learn about our Review Board Erin Pereira, PT, DPT on October 14, 2020 Print Hamstring injuries don't always mean you have tight hamstrings and need to stretch more. In many cases, a pulled hamstring may indicate tight hip flexors and weak glutes (butt muscles). Performing a short movement prep routine that consists of two simple exercises may be all you need to decrease your risk of a hamstring injury during sports. These two exercises—one for the hip flexors and one for the glutes—can be added to your regular warm-up. If you participate in sports that require running, quickly accelerating, or changing direction, consider making these two exercises part of your pre-game routine. 1 Lunge with a Twist Getty Images/PeopleImages Tight hip flexors can inhibit the glutes, which makes the hamstrings work harder. Performing this movement prep exercise before your workout can help lengthen the hip flexors, which allows them to move through a full range of motion so the glutes can do their job. Step back with your left foot into a lunge position.Sink your hips down until you feel a stretch through the front of the left hip flexor.Slowly twist your upper body to the right, with your left hand on your right knee.Optional: hold a small medicine ball (as pictured) to increase upper body and core muscle activation.You will feel an increased stretch through the hip flexors of the left hip.Perform eight to 10 reps on each side. 2 Glute Bridge portishead1 / Getty Images Strong glutes help take the burden off of the hamstrings, so they'll less likely to be strained. The glute bridge is a simple way to activate the glutes so they fire properly during exercise. Start by laying down with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.Tighten your abs and glutes before you move.By contracting your glutes, lift your hips up and form a straight line from your knees to shoulders.Focus on squeezing your glutes.Hold the position for three to five seconds.Perform eight to 10 reps with a short rest between lifts. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get exercise tips to make your workouts less work and more fun. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit