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What is a hamstring strain? 

A hamstring injury can occur if any of the tendons or muscles are stretched beyond their limit. The most common cause of pain in the posterior thigh is a hamstring strain from an acute injury. Pain can also develop following an injury that has failed to heal properly. 
 
A hamstring strain or pull is a tear to the muscle fibres in one of the three muscles, the semitendinosus, semimembranosus or biceps femoris, which make up the hamstring group at the back of the upper thigh. They run from the lower part of the pelvis and insert into the back of the shin bone and when contracting they powerfully bend the knee and extend the hip backwards. 

Causes of hamstring strains 

Acute or sudden hamstring strains usually happen in two ways, either sprinting or stretching. 
 
Hamstring strains often occur during sudden, explosive movements, such as sprinting, lunging or jumping. During sprinting, the hamstring muscles work extremely hard to decelerate the shin bone just before the foot strikes the ground, and it is at this point that the hamstring is most likely to tear. Sprint-related hamstring injuries most commonly occur lower down the thigh (in the biceps femoris muscle where the muscle joins the tendon) and often feel worse but recover more quickly. 
 
Stretch related injuries usually occur higher at the back of the thigh in the tendon of the semimembranosus muscle and may take longer to heel as the injury is more likely to the tendon where blood flow is lower. 
 
Other causes can include; 
 
cramping of the hamstrings 
muscle contusion 
origin tendonitis 
referred pain 
tight hamstring muscles 

Symptoms 

Symptoms usually consist of a sudden sharp pain at the back of the thigh. They are graded 1, 2 or 3 depending on how bad they are. 
 
Grade 1: You may have tightness in back of the thigh and aware of some discomfort but will be able to walk normally. 
Grade 2: You will most likely be walking with a limp and have some swelling, bruising and pain. Sudden twinges of pain during activity will occur that can be reproduced when pressing on the hamstring or trying to bend the knee against resistance. 
Grade 3: This is the most severe injury involving a tear to half or all of the muscle. You may need crutches to walk and will feel severe pain and weakness in the muscle. Swelling will happen immediately and bruising will usually appear within 24 hours. 
 
Pulled hamstrings are very common, and can reoccur, and we suggest seeing a therapist as soon as possible if you suspect a grade 2 or 3 injury. 

Prevention and treatment 

warm up properly with dynamic exercises and cool down with static stretches 
don’t push too hard too soon when building up training levels 
stretch your quadriceps and lower back 
in acute stages (24-72 hours) apply PRICE. Protection, rest, ice, compression, elevation 
when pain allows you can start stretching and strengthening, please ask your therapist for advice 
taping may help, your therapist will advise 
massage will help reduce scar tissue and re-align muscle fibres facilitating full recovery 

Three exercises to help 

Bent Knee Hamstring Stretch - place your leg onto a chair or low platform. Keep you knee bent and lean forward over your thigh. Gently try and straighten your leg a tiny amount and you should feel a stretch into the middle of your hamstrings. 
Alternate Heel Kicks - standing, kick the heel towards the bottom of one leg and then go back to your start position, and then repeat with the other leg. Heel kicks are useful for warming up the hamstring muscle group (located at the back of the thigh). 
Hamstring Curl with Band - tie an exercise band around your ankle, and attach the other end to a fixed object (e.g. under a weight, or around the leg of a table). Lie face down. Bend your knee creating a resistance in the band. This is a strengthening exercise for the hamstring muscle group 
 
If you are having issues with your hamstring or any other area, please contact us! We are here to help. Give us a call, email or book online. 
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