Symptoms
Pulled Hamstring Symptoms. In general, pulled hamstrings tend to be painful and cause issues standing or walking immediately after injury. People describe it as being tight or feeling like a cramp or a knot. Pain is usually right at the site of injury but it can also feel like it radiates up or down the thigh.
Causes
Hamstring injuries are treated by primary care physicians, including family medicine and general-medicine doctors, as well as internists. Doctors who specialize in athletic injury evaluation and treatment are orthopedic surgeons. Physiatrists also can care for hamstring injuries.
Prevention
Strains can take as long as 12 weeks to fully heal, but after four weeks, the tissues should be healed to the point where you can walk easily without pain. I see this most often in older water-skiers trying to pull up on one ski, and soccer players or sprinters moving at full speed.
Complications
What are the symptoms of hamstring strain?
- Hamstring tenderness
- Bruising
- Sudden and severe pain during exercise
- A snapping or popping feeling
- Pain in the back of the thigh and lower buttock when walking, bending over, or straightening the leg
- Swelling
- Difficulty walking or standing
What does a pulled hamstring feel like?
What type of Doctor do you see for a pulled hamstring?
Can you still walk with a pulled hamstring?
What are the symptoms of a hamstring pull?
How long does it take for a pull hamstring to heal?
Mild to moderate (grade 1 or 2) tears or strains can heal within three to eight weeks with diligent home therapy. For a grade 3 hamstring tear or strain, recovery may be as long as three months. Returning to sports before the injury is fully healed can cause more severe injuries.
How do I know if I pulled my hamstring?
A hamstring injury typically causes a sudden, sharp pain in the back of your thigh. You might also feel a "popping" or tearing sensation. Swelling and tenderness usually develop within a few hours.
How do u treat a pulled hamstring?
Apply ice packs several times a day to relieve pain and reduce swelling. Wrap the injured area with a compression bandage or wear compression shorts to minimize swelling. Rest with your leg elevated above the level of your heart, if possible, to improve drainage and minimize swelling.
Is it OK to walk on a pulled hamstring?
Limit the amount of walking you do, and try to avoid putting weight on your leg if your doctor recommends this. Ice. Use a bag of ice or a cold compress to help reduce swelling for the first 48 hours after the injury.
Is walking good for hamstring injury?
Slowly increase your physical activity, such as walking. Follow the exercises your provider gave you. As your hamstring heals and gets stronger, you can add more stretches and exercises. Take care not to push yourself too hard or too fast.
How do you heal a pulled hamstring in 2 days?
Initial treatment During the first 2 or 3 days, you should care for your injury using RICE therapy: Rest – rest your leg as much as possible. Ice – apply cold packs (a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel will also work) to your hamstring for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours during the day.
What should you not do with a pulled hamstring?
Dont'sDo not force exercise on an injured hamstring. Professional athletes are out for 4-8 weeks with hamstring injuries so running or any intense exercise on the injury is a big mistake.However, don't sit around too much unless it is considered a grade 3. Movement helps to encourage blood flow into the area.
What is the difference between a pulled and torn hamstring?
A hamstring strain refers to an injury in which the muscle or tendon is stretched or torn. Less severe strains are often referred to as a "pulled hamstring." A hamstring tear, also known as a rupture, infers a more serious injury.
Is my hamstring sore or pulled?
How do I know if I've injured my hamstring? Mild hamstring strains (grade 1) will usually cause sudden pain and tenderness at the back of your thigh. It may be painful to move your leg, but the strength of the muscle should not be affected. Partial hamstring tears (grade 2) are usually more painful and tender.
What is the difference between a pulled and torn hamstring?
A hamstring strain refers to an injury in which the muscle or tendon is stretched or torn. Less severe strains are often referred to as a "pulled hamstring." A hamstring tear, also known as a rupture, infers a more serious injury.
How do you heal a pulled hamstring in 2 days?
To speed the healing, you can:Rest the leg. ... Ice your leg to reduce pain and swelling. ... Compress your leg. ... Elevate your leg on a pillow when you're sitting or lying down.Take anti-inflammatory painkillers. ... Practice stretching and strengthening exercises if your doctor/physical therapist recommends them.
Should you massage a hamstring injury?
Yes. Once the acute phase of healing is over, sports massage can be of great benefit. It can: Flush out excess fluids and swelling from the tissue.
Overview
A hamstring injury occurs when you strain or pull one of your hamstring muscles — the group of three muscles that run along the back of your thigh.
Symptoms
A hamstring injury typically causes a sudden, sharp pain in the back of your thigh. You might also feel a "popping" or tearing sensation. Swelling and tenderness usually develop within a few hours.
Causes
The hamstring muscles are a group of three muscles that run along the back of your thigh from your hip to just below your knee. These muscles make it possible to extend your leg straight behind your body and to bend your knee. When any one of these muscles stretches beyond its limit during physical activity, injury can result.
Complications
Returning to strenuous activities before your hamstring muscles are completely healed might cause an injury recurrence.
Prevention
As part of an overall physical conditioning program, regular stretching and strengthening exercises can help minimize your risk of hamstring injury. Try to be in shape to play your sport; don't play your sport to get in shape.
Hamstring Strain
A pulled hamstring, also called a hamstring strain, is a tear of the hamstring muscle fibers. Hamstring tears are usually graded similarly to other types of muscle strains:
Symptoms
The symptoms of a pulled hamstring depend on the severity of the injury. The hamstring injury is usually sudden and painful. Other common symptoms include:
Treatment
Treatment of a pulled hamstring is dependent on the severity of the injury. Because of bleeding and swelling, athletes should stop their activity and rest immediately. An ice pack and compressive bandage can be applied to control swelling. Crutches may be necessary if walking is painful or if spasms are severe.
Tips
The hamstring is actually three separate muscles: the semitendinosus, semimembranosus and biceps femoris.
Warnings
If your leg becomes more painful, more swollen, or more bruised, call a doctor.
About This Article
This article was co-authored by Julian Arana, M.S.eD., NCSF-CPT. Julian Arana is a Personal Trainer and the Founder of B-Fit Training Studios, a personal training and wellness set of studios based in Miami, Florida. Julian has over 12 years of personal training and coaching experience.
What Does a Hamstring Strain Feel Like?
Mild hamstring strains may not hurt too much. But severe ones can be agonizing, making it impossible to walk or even stand.
What Does a Hamstring Strain Feel Like?
Mild hamstring strains may not hurt too much. But severe ones can be agonizing, making it impossible to walk or even stand.
What's the Treatment for a Hamstring Strain?
Luckily, minor to moderate hamstring strains usually heal on their own. You just need to give them some time. To speed the healing, you can:
What's the Treatment for a Hamstring Strain?
Luckily, minor to moderate hamstring strains usually heal on their own. You just need to give them some time. To speed the healing, you can:
When Will a Hamstring Strain Feel Better?
Recovery time depends on how badly you injured the hamstring. Keep in mind that people heal at different rates. While you get better, you should work the hamstring with a new activity that won't aggravate the strain. For instance, runners could try doing laps in a pool.
When Will a Hamstring Strain Feel Better?
Recovery time depends on how badly you injured the hamstring. Keep in mind that people heal at different rates. While you get better, you should work the hamstring with a new activity that won't aggravate the strain. For instance, runners could try doing laps in a pool.
How Can I Prevent a Hamstring Strain?
As hamstring strains can be nasty injuries, athletes should work hard to avoid them. After all, healing a hamstring strain is much harder than preventing it. Here are some tips:
Diagnosis
During the physical exam, your doctor will check for swelling and points of tenderness along the back of your thigh. The location and intensity of your pain can help determine the extent and nature of the damage.
Treatment
To stretch your hamstring muscles, extend one leg out in front of you and then lean forward until you feel the stretch in the back of your thigh. Repeat with the other leg. Don't bounce.
Preparing for your appointment
While you may initially consult your family physician, he or she may refer you to a doctor who specializes in musculoskeletal medicine, such as someone in sports medicine or orthopedic surgery.
Overview
Your hamstring muscles are skeletal muscles. They’re voluntary muscles, meaning you control how they move and work. You have three hamstring muscles at the back of your thigh. You use these muscles to walk, climb stairs, do squats and perform many other leg movements.
Anatomy
Your hamstring muscles are located in the back of the thigh, starting at your hip and inserting to the knee. Hamstring tendons attach them to bones in your pelvis, knee and lower leg.
Conditions and Disorders
A hamstring muscle strain is the result of overstretched muscle fibers. Hamstring strains can range from mild to severe:
Overview
Symptoms
Causes
Risk Factors
Complications
- A hamstring injury occurs when you strain or pull one of your hamstring muscles — the group of three muscles that run along the back of your thigh. You may be more likely to get a hamstring injury if you play soccer, basketball, football, tennis or a similar sport that involves sprinting with sudden stops and starts. Hamstring injury can occur in r...
Prevention
- A hamstring injury typically causes a sudden, sharp pain in the back of your thigh. You might also feel a "popping" or tearing sensation. Swelling and tenderness usually develop within a few hours. You may also experience bruising or discoloration along the back of your leg, as well as muscle weakness or an inability to put weight on your injured leg.