A pulled hamstring is an injury to one of three thigh muscles, the biceps femoris, semitendinosus or semimembranosus. You'll feel pain somewhere in the back of the thigh, between your knee and pelvis. This muscle strain hurts because the hamstring group is active when walking, bending your knee or stabilizing your trunk movements. Following a recovery plan for even a minor pulled hamstring can put you back on your feet and in your sport as soon as possible.
Degree of Injury
The rate of recovery depends on how much of the thigh muscle group is involved and how severe the damage is. Medical experts, such as physical therapists at the Nicholas Institute of Sports Medicine, rate severity by degrees. The first degree involves overstretching or tearing a few muscle fibers, with pain limited to a small area about the size of a coin. A second-degree tear affects a larger area and may show bruising. The third degree indicates a complete rupture or separation of muscle from bone, with widespread pain, weakness and bruising.
Time Frame
Hamstring injuries of the first and second degree can take 2 to 6 weeks to heal if your body responds to a diligent recovery plan. A third-degree muscle strain requiring surgery may take up to 6 months of recovery time before you can return to full activity or sports.
Pain Relief
Local pain relief for a pulled hamstring of any degree includes the RICE treatment: rest, ice, compression and elevation. Doctors recommend avoiding heat applications for a few days after your accident, when swelling of the thigh muscles is greatest. Wrap your thigh with a supportive bandage and elevate your leg in between periodic 15-minute applications of ice. Rest by avoiding the activity that caused the injury or any movements that are painful (outside of mild discomfort during physical therapy).
Physical Therapy
Very gentle stretching and resistance exercises can be started as soon as possible after a muscle strain injury. Take it easy at first. Forceful stretching that causes pain will prolong your lameness, not toughen you up. Try seated and recumbent (performed while lying down) stretches that contract and relax your pulled hamstring without much discomfort. As the pain fades, you can add walking and other weight-bearing exercise to your conditioning program.
Postoperative Care
Thigh muscles are large, thick tissues that may mend slowly. This is especially true following invasive surgery. Keeping the weight off your hamstring is key to a successful repair. It will also help you avoid muscle strain recurrence. In addition to pain relief and physical therapy, your doctor will prescribe health aids, such as a leg brace and crutches, to support your recovering muscles.
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