A pulled hamstring, or a hamstring strain, commonly occurs among basketball, football and soccer athletes, as well as dancers and runners. It is crucial to properly treat the injury for prompt and successful healing to occur. Use ice during the initial stages of treatment, usually within the first two days. Use heat treatment after swelling and pain of the region has subsided. Treatment length may vary depending on the injury's severity.
Description
The hamstrings are a group of three muscles behind your upper leg, which are used to flex the knee, extend the leg and the hip, and assist in balance and the movement of forward propulsion. When these muscles are stretched past their natural limit of flexibility, the muscle fibers tear, causing injury. MayoClinic.com lists common symptoms of a pulled hamstring, including: a sudden, sharp pain in the back of the thigh during activity; a tearing sensation in the muscle; swelling and tenderness within a few hours of injury; bruising or discoloration along the back of the leg; and muscle weakness.
First Aid
It is very important to perform proper first-aid on a pulled hamstring immediately starting after injury. Follow the RICE protocol, which stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation. Stop participating in the activity that caused the injury and remove yourself to a safe place, and avoid placing direct body weight on the leg. Apply ice packs to the hamstring area several times a day and wrap the area with a compression bandage. Rest your leg in an elevated position, above the level of your heart, and take a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen to reduce swelling.
Heat versus Ice
"Farmer's Almanac" states that applying heat to a pulled muscle within the first 24 hours of injury will actually increase swelling and pain, because heat increases blood flow and circulation. Because your body's natural reaction to injury will be increased blood flow and swelling at the site, attracting even more blood and circulation will only compound the issue. Ice, however, is a vasoconstrictor, which means it narrows the blood vessels, reducing the amount of blood and fluids that can get to the region.
Treatment
Use ice during the initial stages of injury. Wrap the ice in a towel; never apply ice directly to the skin. Apply the ice for 20 minutes at a time, every two to four hours. When the swelling has subsided, usually within 48 hours, you can continue to soothe and relax the injured muscles by applying heat. As with ice, apply heat for 20 minutes at a time. The length and duration recommended for using heat and cold treatment will vary, depending on the severity of your injury.
Rehabilitation of the muscle may require continued heat therapy along with stretching, massage and light activity.
Warning
Never apply heat or cold therapy to an injury for more than 20 minutes at a time. Doing so could increase your risk of cell or nerve damage.
Individuals with circulatory problems or nerve damage should not use heat or cold therapy on injuries.
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