Who treats hamstring injuries?
Doctors who specialize in athletic injury evaluation and treatment are orthopedic surgeons. Physiatrists also can care for hamstring injuries. Ancillary caregivers who are frequently involved in the treatment of hamstring injuries include physical therapists and massage therapists.
How is a hamstring strain diagnosed?
Diagnosis of a hamstring tear or strain. A hamstring injury is diagnosed in a visit with your primary care or orthopedic provider. The doctor will take a full medical history and physical exam. During the physical exam, the doctor will evaluate the swelling, tenderness and range of motion in the leg.
What should I do if I feel pain in my hamstring?
If you feel sudden pain in your hamstring, stop what you’re doing to prevent more damage. You may have heard the acronym RICE before. It may help you get better, faster. Rest. Avoid doing activities that may aggravate your injury. This may mean totally resting or even using crutches or another mobility aid.
Can a hamstring tear be repaired?
If the treatments above don’t heal a partial tear, or if you have a complete tear, you may need surgery to repair it. The surgeon will fix the tear with stitches. However, most hamstring surgeries are done to treat avulsions. During the procedure, the surgeon will move the muscle into its correct position and staple or stitch it to the bone.
What type of doctor treats a hamstring injury?
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.
How do I know if my hamstring is pulled or torn?
You might feel:sudden, sharp pain.a “popping” sensation at the time of injury.tenderness.swelling within the first few hours.bruising within the first few days.partial or complete weakness in your leg.inability to place weight on your leg.
Can you still walk with a torn hamstring?
Grade 3; this is a complete tear of one or more of the hamstring muscles. You'll feel pain and not be able to straighten your leg all the way, and you'll notice swelling right away. Walking will be very difficult and may require crutches.
How does a doctor fix a torn hamstring?
In order to repair a tendon avulsion, the surgeon has to pull the hamstring muscle back to its proper location and to remove any scar tissue. At this point, the surgeon will stitch or staple the tendon to the bone. If there is a tear within the muscle itself, it will be sewn together with stitches.
How long should a hamstring injury last?
It is not uncommon for a severe hamstring injury to take a year to eighteen months to recover. In our experience, the more common smaller hamstring strain takes around 3 to 5 months to recover.
Is heat good for a pulled hamstring?
Is heat or ice better for a hamstring pull or tear? In the initial stages of the injury, ice helps minimize the inflammatory response and reduce swelling. Once the acute injury phase is over, heat is recommended to loosen the muscle and ease pain and stiffness.
How do I heal a pulled hamstring quickly?
Follow these steps for the first few days or weeks after your injury:Rest. Stop any physical activity that causes pain. ... Ice. Put ice on your hamstring for about 20 minutes, 2 to 3 times a day. ... Compression. A compression bandage or wrap can reduce swelling and ease pain.Elevation.
What should you not do with a pulled hamstring?
4 Mistakes People Make When Rehabilitating Hamstring StrainsLoading the Hamstring Too Early. The first mistake I often see is simple. ... Not Performing Eccentric Exercises. ... Not Performing Dynamic Hamstring Exercises. ... Returning to Sports Too Early.
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.
What does a hamstring tear feel like?
Sharp pain Hamstring tears are typically accompanied by sharp, acute pain in the back of the thigh or underneath the buttocks near the muscle attachment. Often, this pain is preceded by a “snapping” or “popping” sound at the moment of injury.
Do hamstring tears require surgery?
Surgical treatments for hamstring tears Harris often recommends conservative treatments to fix hamstring tears, there are cases where surgery may be needed to repair your hamstring. Complete hamstring tears or mild to moderate tears that don't improve with nonsurgical treatments may require surgery.
What does a torn hamstring feel like?
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.
What does a grade 1 hamstring strain feel like?
Grade 1 Strain- Mild, only a few fibers have been injured. Walking will likely be unaffected, you may feel minimal symptoms with sprinting. Grade 2 Strain- Moderate, a partial muscle tear up to half of the muscle. You may experience a limp with walking, and running may not be an option due to weakness and pain.
What to do after hamstring injury?
After the initial pain and swelling of a hamstring injury subside, your doctor or a physical therapist can show you how to perform specific exercises designed to improve flexibility and strengthen your hamstring muscles.
How to stretch hamstrings?
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.
What to check for in a physical exam?
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.
What to do when you have a broken leg?
Use a cane or crutches to avoiding putting your full weight on your injured leg.
Can a muscle tear be repaired?
If your muscle has pulled free from where it's connected to your pelvis or shinbone, orthopedic surgeons can reattach it. Severe muscle tears also can be repaired.
Who to refer to for musculoskeletal surgery?
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.
Can hamstrings tear?
In severe hamstring injuries, the muscle can tear or even detach from where it's connected to the pelvis or shinbone. Sometimes, a small piece of bone is pulled away (avulsion fracture) from the main bone when this detachment occurs.
What is the most common injury in athletics?
One of the most common and troublesome injuries seen in athletics is the hamstring strain. The hamstring is a group of muscles located on the back of the thigh. The main job of the hamstring muscles is to allow the leg to flex (bend) and extend. Hamstring injuries can occur in a number of ways, the most common is through over stretching.
Can a hamstring injury be a recurring injury?
Hamstring injuries can occur in a number of ways, the most common is through over stretching. A mildly strained hamstring that is not treated properly and allowed to heal sufficiently may result in recurring strains of that ham string. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.
How do health care professionals diagnose hamstring injuries?
Injury to the hamstring muscle is diagnosed by the rapid onset of intense pain in the back of the mid-thigh during running or similar activity. Athletes will often instantly grab in pain at the back of the thigh, being unable to walk without limping. There is often focal tenderness where there is pain that is aggravated by stretching the affected thigh. In most patients, imaging is not necessary. However, if imaging is done to more completely view the muscle, tendon, or bone involvement with the injury, MRI gives the best views, although CT and ultrasound studies have also been used.
What is the treatment for hamstring injuries?
Essentially, all other grade I-III tears are best treated without surgery.
What are risk factors for hamstring injury?
Any activity that is associated with sudden acceleration when initiating or during running can lead to a hamstring injury. Common athletic activities where hamstring injuries occur include track and field events with running and sprinting, football, baseball, soccer, and tennis.
What are symptoms and signs of injury to the hamstring muscles?
Hamstring injuries usually occur with sudden lunging, running, or jumping, resulting in muscle injury. The sudden jerking pulls on the tissues of the hamstring muscle. In fact, it is commonly referred to as a "pulled hamstring." Oftentimes, a "pop" is heard or felt by the injured athlete. A variable amount of pain is experienced immediately. The athlete is usually unable to continue and oftentimes cannot even stand.
What are home remedies for hamstring injury?
The goal of treatment is to restore muscle function and prevent scar formation. Initially, treatment consists of rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE). Rest refers to avoidance of offending activities and oftentimes includes immobilization. In severe cases, crutches or splinting may be necessary. Ice, compression, and elevation all help in controlling pain and swelling. A short course of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication, such as aspirin, ibuprofen ( Advil, Children's Advil/ Motrin, Medipren, Motrin, Nuprin, PediaCare Fever, and others), or naproxen ( Aleve, Anaprox, Naprelan, Naprosyn ), may be helpful (avoid aspirin use in children).
What are the hamstrings?
The hamstrings are the tendons that attach the large muscles at the back of the thigh to bone. The hamstring muscles are the large muscles that pull on these tendons. It has become common in layman's terminology (and by some medical personnel) to refer to the long muscles at the back of the thigh as the "hamstrings" or "hamstring muscles." Academic anatomists refer to them as the posterior thigh muscles, and more specifically as the semimembranosus, the semitendinosus, and the biceps femoris muscles. These muscles span the thigh, crossing both the hip and the knee. They originate or begin at just below the buttocks, arising from the bone on which we sit (the ischium). They connect by means of their tendons onto the upper parts of the lower leg bones (the tibia and the fibula).
What is a hamstring injury?
Hamstrings are tendons of the muscles of the back of the thigh. Hamstring muscles bend the knee and straighten the hip. Hamstring muscle injury is a common athletic injury. Most hamstring muscle and tendon injuries heal without surgery.
How to diagnose a hamstring injury?
Diagnosis of a hamstring tear or strain. A hamstring injury is diagnosed in a visit with your primary care or orthopedic provider. The doctor will take a full medical history and physical exam. During the physical exam, the doctor will evaluate the swelling, tenderness and range of motion in the leg. In moderate tears or strains, the physician may ...
What is a hamstring tear or strain?
A hamstring tear or strain, also called a pulled hamstring, is an injury to one of the back muscles in the back of the thigh. These injuries are common with athletes who participate in sports where they must sprint.
How long does it take for a hamstring tear 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.
What are the different types of hamstring strains?
Types of a hamstring tear or strain. Grade 1 — mild injury that heals within a couple weeks. Grade 2 — moderate injury that is typically a partial tear in the muscle; patients are likely to limp when walking and will have occasional twinges of pain during activity. Grade 3 — severe injury where the muscle is completely torn or a lump ...
What are the risk factors for a hamstring tear?
People who have poor flexibility, poor strength, muscle fatigue and those who do not warm up properly are at greatest risk for developing a hamstring tear or strain . Other risk factors of a hamstring tear or strain include: Age — as you get older, you are at higher risk of a pulled hamstring.
What does it feel like to have a hamstring tear?
The immediate symptom of a hamstring tear or strain is a sudden, sharp pain in the back of the upper leg. The pain may be so severe it stops you from continuing your activity.
How to treat a mild strain of the sprain?
Mild to moderate strains can often be treated at home with rest, ice, compression and elevation in combination with anti-inflammatory medications. Crutches also may be recommended to help the patient get around.
How to tell if hamstring is torn?
The symptoms of a torn hamstring depend on the severity of your injury. You might feel: 1 sudden, sharp pain 2 a “popping” sensation at the time of injury 3 tenderness 4 swelling within the first few hours 5 bruising within the first few days 6 partial or complete weakness in your leg 7 inability to place weight on your leg
What is a grade 1 hamstring injury?
Depending on their severity, hamstring injuries are categorized into one of three grades. Grade 1 is mild hamstring strain, which is also called a pulled hamstring. It happens when the hamstring muscles overstretch but don’t tear. If the hamstring stretches to the point where it rips, the injury is considered a tear.
What happens when you overstretch your hamstrings?
It happens when the hamstrings are overstretched or overloaded with too much weight. Depending on the injury, the hamstring can tear partially or completely. The injury can affect one or more of the muscles in your hamstring muscle group. These muscles include the:
How long does it take for a hamstring tear to heal?
Takeaway. Most hamstring tears are caused by athletic injuries. Typically, partial tears he al in 4 to 8 weeks, while complete tears take about 3 months. You should start to feel better with regular physical therapy and lots of rest.
What test shows a tear in muscle tissue?
MRI. If the doctor thinks you have a severe injury, you might get an MRI. This imaging test will show the tear in your muscle tissue.
Why do older people tear their hamstrings?
In addition to athletes, older people are prone to hamstring tears. That’s because flexibility often declines with age. Adolescent athletes, who are still growing, are also at risk. Since bone and muscle grow at different rates, the growing bone can tighten the hamstring muscles, making them more susceptible to injury.
What is the first line of treatment for sports injuries?
The RICE method is the first line of treatment for most sports injuries. For grade 2 tears, it’s the main form of treatment.
How to treat a hamstring injury?
Consider bandaging your thigh with an elastic wrap to limit swelling and movement. Elevation. Try to keep your leg propped up on a pillow to limit swelling. OTC pain medications may help ease your discomfort with a hamstring injury.
What to do if you feel a pain in your hamstring?
If you feel sudden pain in your hamstring, stop what you’re doing to prevent more damage. You may have heard the acronym RICE before. It may help you get better, faster.
What pain relievers can I take for hamstring pain?
OTC pain medications may help ease your discomfort with a hamstring injury. Oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Motrin, Aleve), or another OTC pain medication like acetaminophen (Tylenol), may be good for short-term relief. Topical NSAID creams or gels can also help ease pain.
How to relieve hamstring pain?
Another option for pain relief involves using a foam roller to apply what’s called myofascial release to your hamstrings. Place the roller just above the back of your knee and roll upward in the direction of blood flow to massage the muscles. Professional sports massage may also help with your pain.
Why does my hamstring hurt?
The main cause of injury to the hamstring is muscle overload. Strains and tears happen when the muscle is lengthening as it contracts or shortens. They may also happen if the muscle is stretched too far or is taxed too suddenly.
How long does it take for a hamstring injury to heal?
Many hamstring injuries respond well to home treatment and heal within a few days. If your pain isn’t going away or your symptoms are getting worse, it’s a good idea to call your doctor to set up an appointment. In severe cases, your hamstring injury may require surgery and several months of rest and physical therapy.
What can a doctor do for a muscle imbalance?
Regardless of the severity, your doctor can give you important tips on how long you should rest or what exercises might help you prevent future injuries. Your doctor can also refer you to a physical therapist to work on any muscle imbalances that may be contributing to your injuries.
How to heal a hamstring injury?
Most of these injuries fortunately do not require surgery. Typically the only hamstring injury that requires surgery is one in which the tendon is pulled off the ischial tuberosity at the hip. Initially rest and avoiding activity are the first-line treatments. Ice to the back of the thigh can help decrease swelling and bruising. Avoiding stress to these muscles can help the muscle fibers heal more quickly. When the athlete feels more comfortable with daily activities and basic motion of the hip and knee, I usually add advocate that the athlete works with a physical therapist for strengthening and motion exercises. When these exercises become more comfortable, we will allow the athlete to progress to conditioning exercises, such as jogging, before trying sport-specific exercises.
What is hamstrings in sports?
Learn more about his background, media appearances, and practice . The hamstring muscles are muscles that run along the back ...
How to help muscles heal faster?
Avoiding stress to these muscles can help the muscle fibers heal more quickly. When the athlete feels more comfortable with daily activities and basic motion of the hip and knee, I usually add advocate that the athlete works with a physical therapist for strengthening and motion exercises.
Where are the hamstrings in soccer?
The hamstring muscles are muscles that run along the back of the thigh from the hip to below the knee. These muscles are commonly injured in sports that involve sprinting. I frequently see hamstring strains most commonly in soccer players.
Can you get back to sports after a hamstring strain?
It can be difficult to predict how long it will take an athlete to return to sports. One of the risks of pushing an athlete too hard to get back is the risk of reinjury. It’s thought that once an athlete suffers a hamstring strain, especially if it has not fully recovered, he is much more likely to reinjure the hamstring again. Frequent examination by the sports medicine physician and regular work with the sports physical therapist can help get the athlete back to sports as quickly as possible.
Can a hamstring injury be evaluated by an MRI?
Sometimes I will order an MRI to evaluate this injury further. While the diagnosis of a hamstring strain can be simple, MRI can indicate the severity of the injury and help estimate the length of time it will take to get the athlete back to sports.
Can you see bruising on the back of your thigh?
The athlete will usually have point tenderness at the site of the injury. It’s common to see a large amount of bruising along the back of the thigh and a fair amount of swelling. As you would expect due to an injury to a muscle, attempts to test the strength of that muscle – in this case having the athlete flex his knee against resistance – can demonstrate weakness.