Hamstring strain
What is it?
A hamstring strain is a tear in the muscles that covers the back of your thigh. Your hamstrings are the muscles behind your thigh that help straighten you knee.
Symptoms
The first symptom is usually as sudden tearing feeling or pain in the back of your thigh as the muscle tears. With minor tears, you may be able to continue exercising. However, with more severe strains, the pain may be so bad you can't stand on it.
As you cool down after exercise, the pain may get worse as the muscle swells and bleeds internally. You may feel this as tightening and stiffening of the muscle. You may even have some bruising around the injured area.
Causes
A muscle strain occurs when the muscle is forced to contract when it's in a stretched position. This often happens during running or sprinting just before or after your foot has hit the ground.
You're more likely to have a muscle strain if your :
- warm-up is too short
- muscles are already tight or stiff
- muscles are tired or overused
- recovery time between training sessions isn't long enough
- muscles are weak
Treatment
A sports medicine professional, such as a physiotherapist or sports medicine doctor, can diagnose a hamstring strain. He or she will determine exactly which muscle tissues are damaged, the extent of the damage and estimate how long you will take to heal.
You will be given instruction to help reduce pain and swelling, and speed up the healing process. You may also be shown preventative exercises designed to increase the range of movement and strength in the muscle. Other medical techniques such as ultrasound, massage and even injection therapy may also be appropriate.
Do
- Follow the PRICE procedure.
- Warm up properly before exercising.
Don't
- Use HARM. These activities will increase blood flow to the injured area.
Peer reviewed by David Toy MCSP, Bupa Sports Medicine physiotherapist
Publication date: June 2009
