Hamstring strain

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Hamstring strain occurs frequently in athletes who engage in sports that demand to sprint. For example track, soccer, and basketball. A pulled hamstring or strain is an injury to the muscles behind the thigh. Most hamstring injuries respond well to simple, nonsurgical treatments.

Anatomy of the hamstring muscle group

The hamstring muscles run along the back of the thigh. The hamstring group of muscles allows you to extend your leg straight back and bend your knee.

Description of a hamstring strain

A hamstring injury generally is a pull, a partial tear, or even a complete tear. Muscle strains are graded based on their severity. A grade 1 strain is mild and in most cases heals readily; a grade 3 strain is a complete tear of the muscle, which could take months to heal.

Cause of a hamstring strain

Muscle overload is definitely the main reason for hamstring muscle strain. This tends to happen in the event the muscle is stretched beyond its capacity or challenged with a sudden load. Several risk factors include:

  • Muscle tightness
  • Muscle imbalance
  • Poor conditioning
  • Muscle fatigue

Symptoms of a hamstring strain

In the event you strain your hamstring while sprinting in full stride, you will observe intense, sharp pain behind your thigh. It’ll lead you to an instant stop, and either limp on your good leg or fall. Additional symptoms could also include:

  • Swelling throughout the initial few hours after injury
  • Bruising or discoloration on the back of the leg underneath the knee within the first couple of days
  • Weakness in the hamstring that may persist for weeks

Treatment for a hamstring strain

Management of hamstring strains varies depending upon the kind of injury you’ve got, its severity, as well as your own needs and expectations. The objective of any treatment is always to enable you to resume all of the activities you enjoy. Following your chiropractor’s plan of action will restore your abilities faster, and help you prevent further future problems.

Most hamstring strains heal effectively with simple, nonsurgical treatment. The RICE protocol is most effective for almost all sports-related injuries. RICE is short for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. As soon as the initial pain and swelling have subsided, chiropractic treatment will start. Specific exercises can restore flexibility and strength. A rehabilitative program focuses first on flexibility. Gentle stretches performed by your chiropractor will enhance your range of flexibility. As healing progresses, strengthening exercises will gradually be included in your program. Your chiropractor will talk about only when it’s safe to go back to the sports activity.

Recovery for a hamstring strain

The majority of people who injure their hamstrings will recover full function after completing a rehabilitation plan. Early treatment using a plan that includes the RICE protocol and chiropractic treatment is shown to lead to better function and quickly come back to sports.

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