The hamstring is a large muscle group located on the back of the thigh. The semitendinosus, semimembrinosus and biceps femoris all make up the hamstring muscle. A hamstring pull usually refers to a minor hamstring strain and can occur in any of these three muscles. Most muscle tears occur when the tissue is overloaded by excess stress, causing injury.
Function
The primary functions of the hamstring muscle are to bend the knee and extend the hip and thigh. Sprinting, jumping, hurdling and other cardio-based sports are the most common causes of hamstring strains due to the overwhelming force and demand put on the hamstring.
Types
Tears can be classified into three categories: grade I (mild), grade II (moderate) and grade III (severe). Grade I tears involve an overstretching of the muscle tissue, leading to soreness and discomfort. Grade II tears involve actual tearing of the tissue, which can cause problems walking and may lead to divots in the muscle. Grade III tears are the most severe and usually involve complete disruption of the muscle, which may need surgical repair. The location of the tear can also vary depending on where the muscle was overloaded. Tears usually occur in the largest part of the muscle, called the muscle belly. Although uncommon, tears can also occur on the tendon and the point at which the muscle attaches to the bone.
Signs and Symptoms
Moderate to severe muscle strains usually have visible signs of injury. Signs of hamstring strains may include swelling, bruising and divots along the muscle. Symptoms may include muscle weakness, tightness, sharp pain, discomfort, limping and/or the inability to contract the muscle through full range of motion.
Recovery
Recovery may be as short as one to two days or as long as several months, depending on the severity of the hamstring tear. Recovery can be sped up by following proper injury care and rehabilitation. Using RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) immediately following an injury can improve the recovery process.
Prevention
Hamstring pulls can be prevented by taking proper precautions. Warming up, cooling down, pre/post-exercise stretching and post-workout icing can all help prevent injuries. Long-term prevention may include keeping a good hamstring/quadriceps strength ratio, taking adequate recovery time, avoiding overtraining and modifying improper running form.
Medical Attention
Injuries that cause walking disabilities, last more than two weeks or appear to be getting worse may require medical attention from an orthopedic physician. After an evaluation, he may prescribe a rehabilitation program designed by an athletic trainer or physical therapist.
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