Hamstring Muscle Injuries

Hamstring injuries are common in athletes, yet anyone can fall victim to a simple hamstring pull or even a more serious strain. And hamstring injuries can linger, requiring extended rest and recovery time to properly heal. This makes it critical to recognize the first signs of a possible hamstring problem.

Facts

• The hamstring is actually comprised of three separate muscles: the semitendinosus, the semimembranosus and the biceps femoris. All three run along the back of the thigh, connecting at the base of the pelvis, crossing the knee joint, and connecting again at the top of the tibia and fibula bones of the lower leg. The hamstring is responsible for bending the knee and extending the leg backward at the hip.

Causes

• Muscle overload causes the majority of hamstring injuries. This simply means the muscle is stretched or taxed beyond capacity. Typically, this occurs when the hamstring is lengthened as it contracts. Sprinters, hurdlers and football players often suffer hamstring injuries since their muscles are flexed, or contracted, while running.

Types

• Hamstring strains are classified into three grades. A Grade 1 strain features minor tears within the muscle. A Grade 2 strain has a partial tear in the muscle. And a Grade 3 strain, the most severe, is a complete muscle tear. In the worst Grade 3 strains, the hamstring is torn completely from the bone, sometimes even taking a piece of bone with it.

Identification

• In a Grade 1 hamstring strain, the injured person will experience some tightness in the back of the thigh and perhaps some mild swelling. She'll likely be able to walk normally without much discomfort.

  A Grade 2 hamstring strain usually causes an altered gait or obvious limp. Occasional sharp bursts of pain during activity, particularly when trying to flex the knee, may be present. The pain increases with pressure.

  There's little difficulty diagnosing a Grade 3 hamstring strain. The pain is excruciating and makes walking all but impossible, with crutches often required. Swelling is immediate and obvious.

Time Frame

• Recovery times for hamstring strains vary depending on the severity of the injury. Grade 1 strains, often called pulls, can heal on their own after a few days of rest. Ice and massage can be used to reduce swelling and speed up recovery. Grade 2 hamstring strains can take a few weeks to recover. And it's important to let the muscle completely heal before resuming physical activity. If not healed properly, hamstring strains can become a chronic problem.

  With severe Grade 3 strains, surgery is often required to either stitch the ruptured muscle or reattach the tendons to the bone. Recovery time is usually six months.

Prevention/Solution

• The best way to prevent a hamstring injury is to stretch and warm up with light aerobic exercise before beginning any strenuous activity.