How to Overcome Hamstring Injuries

Hamstring injuries can be extremely painful. Whether you pulled your hamstring or just strained it, it can leave you without much function in that leg until it heals. There are steps you can take to overcome a hamstring injury without any lingering problems.

Things You'll Need

• Ice

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Instructions

• 1

  Rest. You need to stay off your leg to avoid any further damage. Either walk with crutches or stay off your injured leg altogether.

• 2

  Ice your injured hamstring often. The ice will help it heal and help avoid any further stress to the area.

• 3

  Stretch your leg when it is no longer painful. Toe-stretches are the best exercises to stretch the hamstring muscle. If you rest the hamstring for too long, the muscles and tendons will start to shrink and it will take longer to fully strengthen them.

• 4

  Strengthen the hamstring with weight training exercises. Do leg curls, squats and lunges to build the muscle back up in your hamstring area.

• 5

  Return to the sport or activity in which you injured your hamstring when it returns to 100 percent. It's important to fully rehabilitate your leg before you return to full activity or you risk reinjuring it.