Strained Hamstring Treatment

Muscle strains can be frustrating because a strain actually is a tear in the muscle fiber. If you have a strained hamstring, there could be tears in any of the four muscles that make up the hamstrings; the semitendinosus, the semimembranosus and the biceps femoris. Muscle strains, depending on their severity, can take weeks or even months to heal. But there are some ways you can treat the strain.

Immobilization

• Wrapping the injured hamstring and stopping any activity that can result in a worsening of the tear is the first step in treatment. Depending on the severity of the strain, you may need to see a doctor and he or she might advise placing the injury in a leg brace. Because the hamstrings are so commonly used, crutches may be recommended as well.

Ice and Elevation

• Immediately after straining the hamstring you need to get off your feet and apply ice to the area. This will slow down the blood flow to the area of the tear and lessen the chance of the injury getting worse. Keeping the injured area above the heart will help slow the flow of blood as well. Keep the ice on the hamstring strain for 15 minutes and repeat the procedure every two to three hours for the first 72 hours after the injury. Icing it will also reduce inflammation common with muscle injury.

Stretching

• After the pain has subsided in the injured hamstring, you can begin to stretch the muscle again. Don't do anything that causes pain but instead keep your stretching exercises on the safe side and in the pain-free range. Stretching will help the muscle heal properly and can also prevent future injury from happening.

Therapy

• If the pain in your hamstring doesn't seem to be getting better you should consult your doctor. He or she may recommend that you see a therapist, who can perform a sports massage that can quicken the healing process. The therapist can also provide you with a list of exercises and stretching routines that you can adopt to lessen the risk of further injury.