Keeping your muscles in good shape is the best way to prevent hamstring injuries. Here are some ways to help protect yourself against them and other sports injuries! The good news is that only the most severe muscle tears require surgery. Most hamstring strains will heal on their own or with some physical therapy. If you have a complete tear of one of your hamstring muscles or tendons, your doctor might want you to have surgery to reattach the tendon to the bone or fix the tendon.
Not overdoing things is key when it comes to this type of injury. Many people have a hamstring strain come back because they returned to play too quickly.
So follow your doctor's advice and don't push yourself or feel pressure to get back into sports or other activities too soon. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is a Hamstring Strain? What Are the Symptoms of a Hamstring Strain? Other symptoms of a hamstring strain include: pain in the back of your thigh when you bend or straighten your leg tenderness, swelling, and bruising in the back of the thigh weakness in your leg that lasts for a long time after the injury Page 1 How Is a Hamstring Strain Diagnosed?
The examination will help figure out what grade of strain you have: Grade 1; this is a mild strain. You may experience some pain when you use your leg, but it will be minor and there will be minimal swelling. Grade 2; this is a partial tear of one or more of the hamstring muscles. This may cause you to limp when you walk and feel some pain during activity.
You might see some swelling and bruising, and you might not be able to straighten your leg all the way. Grade 3; this is a complete tear of one or more of the hamstring muscles. You'll feel pain and not be able to straighten your leg all the way, and you'll notice swelling right away. Walking will be very difficult and may require crutches. What Causes a Hamstring Strain?
Some of the more common things that can contribute to a hamstring strain include: Not warming up properly before exercising. Tight muscles are much more likely to strain than muscles that are kept strong and flexible. Being out of shape or overdoing it.
Weak muscles are less able to handle the stress of exercise, and muscles that are tired lose some of their ability to absorb energy, making them more likely to get injured. An imbalance in the size of your leg muscles. These muscles, which are in the back of your thigh, help bend your knees during activities like jumping and running.
While anyone can tear their hamstring, the injury is most common in athletes. In addition to athletes, older people are prone to hamstring tears. Adolescent athletes, who are still growing, are also at risk. Since bone and muscle grow at different rates, the growing bone can tighten the hamstring muscles, making them more susceptible to injury. Grade 1 is mild hamstring strain , which is also called a pulled hamstring. If the hamstring stretches to the point where it rips, the injury is considered a tear.
Hamstring tear grades include:. Compared to a grade 1 strain, a grade 2 tear is more painful. The most severe hamstring tear is a grade 3 hamstring tear. It occurs when the hamstring muscle rips completely or tears off the bone.
A tear that pulls the muscle off the bone is called an avulsion. The back of your thigh will also be extremely painful and swollen. In a hamstring tear, the muscle fibers stretch so much that they rip. A strain, on the other hand, is when the muscle is only overstretched. At your appointment, a doctor will do several things to determine if you have a torn hamstring.
This might include a:. Torn hamstring treatment depends on the grade of your injury. In general, treatment options include:. The RICE method is the first line of treatment for most sports injuries. The surgeon will fix the tear with stitches. However, most hamstring surgeries are done to treat avulsions. When any one of these muscles stretches beyond its limit during physical activity, injury can result.
Returning to strenuous activities before your hamstring muscles are completely healed might cause an injury recurrence. As part of an overall physical conditioning program, regular stretching and strengthening exercises can help minimize your risk of hamstring injury.
Try to be in shape to play your sport; don't play your sport to get in shape. If you have a physically demanding occupation, regular conditioning can help prevent injuries. Ask your doctor about appropriate conditioning exercises. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version.
This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview A hamstring injury occurs when you strain or pull one of your hamstring muscles — the group of three muscles that run along the back of your thigh. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic.
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