Aqua Jogging

first, if it is your hamstring, dont' bother. the resistance will prevent you from healing. however, if it is neuromuscular or bone related, then hit the pool. most pools have them available to you. Just ask the lifeguards. The running belts pools have differ from the (proper) belts, but are justa s effective. aquajoggers are pricey because they know a depressed injured runner will consider it spoiling themselves and shell out the dough. don't be fooled. also, ask around for someone who might own one in a previous injury. If you want a good workout, get the form down and poolrun sans belt, just don't swim run and lean forward.

aqua jogging will help if you've got back trouble or something, it will help take some stress from your joints... but it will work your hamstrings plenty hard, probably a lot more than you want.

don't wear the belt, it's way too easy. i find that you have to push pretty damn hard to get your heart rate up with the belt on.

one of my hamstrings, i think, is strained. when I run I feel like the right leg with the bad hamstring just limps along. it's not painful, but numb sort of feeling. what is best way to deal with this? exercise bike, pool, rest altogether?

I have the aqua jogger classic, which i like, but i would probably buy the pro if i had it to do over. it has more bouyancy. with the classic there are times that my mouth is barely above water, esp. if i'm trying to go hard and don't have a lot of air in my lungs.

Definitely ask around to see if you can borrow one first. There's probably someone in your club that has one. If you're in school, have your coach or AD buy it and they can keep it for the next injured guy.

I used one for about a month 2 years ago for a foot/shin injury and it killed my leg speed for awhile, but man, i was in killer aerobic shape. i liked it, although it is tough to keep your mind occupied for 60-90 min. in the pool.

My understanding is that the pro versions are for larger people and that the classic/basic units are better suited to your average competitive runner. I have a classic and a friend of mine has the basic. I have no problem with bouyancy using these units (I'm 5'10", 145 lbs.) The classic and basic are essentially the same, but the basic unit isn't quite as nice cosmetically (the edges aren't buffed, who cares?). If you're normal-sized, I'd go with the basic (but get that ham looked at because as others said, aquajogging could just make it worse).

Here's a link to a place that I've had good luck with:

http://www.fwonline.com/aqjeb.htm

They have the basic unit for $20.85 + S/H

If its numb and no pain, sounds like a nerve problem. Something is keeping the hamstring from working properly. Get evaluated by a PT and lay off the exercise until you do. A runner I used to train with once told me "I've never seen a hamstring problem that wasn't a lower back problem in disguise" and over the years there seems to be a lot of truth to her statement. Remember that if the hamstring isn't working properly, you'll use other muscles to compensate and could end up with all kinds of imbalance problems. Good luck.