A tear in your hamstring is a serious injury. Because the hamstring is so vital to everyday routines, including walking, a tear can render the muscle completely useless. Tears in the hamstring often require extreme courses of action to heal them properly, often beginning with surgery. A tear also can usually be identified immediately through its extreme pain and swelling. The rehabilitation process for a torn hamstring is not an easy one and can last months in extreme cases.
Step 1
Undergo surgery to reattach the hamstring. A hamstring that is partially or completely torn might never heal on its own, so having it surgically repaired often is necessary. This won't immediately fix the hamstring, but it will make it possible for the hamstring to be rehabilitated.
Step 2
Rest the leg for several days. It is unlikely that you will have the strength or comfort to move the hamstring at all, but even if you do you should avoid its use to give the surgery time to take hold. After a few days the hamstring will be able to be treated through other rehabilitation practices.
Step 3
Begin a physical therapy program with a trained physical therapist. You will likely be instructed to endure physical therapy two or three times a week until the hamstring is fully recovered; this can take several weeks or even months. Physical therapy will work to strength the hamstring and return it to pre-injury levels of strength and flexibility, although the performance might not be exact to what is used to be. Physical therapists will make sure the rehab process does not move too slowly or too quickly for the muscle.
Step 4
Perform at-home treatments as recommended by your physical therapist, whether it is gentle stretching, icing, taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, or performing light exercise toward the end of your physical therapy rehab.
Tips and Warnings
- Always follow the instructions of your doctors and/or physical therapists.
