What is a hamstring strain?
The hamstring muscles run down the back of the leg from the pelvis to the lower leg bones and insert at the back of the knee through tendons. It is possible for these muscles or tendons to be torn during an explosive or kicking movement.
Strains range from a complete rupture of the muscle to small micro-tears that the player will probably not notice at the time.
Causes
A hamstring strain commonly follows reaching for a ball, kicking and sprinting. Contributing factors include improper warm up, fatigue, poor flexibility, strength, muscle imbalance (quadriceps more powerful leaves hamstring prone to injury).
Symptoms
- A sudden sharp pain at the back of the leg.
- Muscles going into spasm.
- Swelling and bruising.
- If the rupture is very bad you can feel a gap in the muscle.
Strains are graded 1, 2 or 3 depending on severity. A grade 1 might consist of small micro tears in the muscle. A grade 2 would be a partial tear in the muscle and grade 3 is a severe or complete rupture of the muscle.
Grade 1: symptoms
- Tightness in the thigh.
- Unable to walk properly.
What you can do
- Use a compression bandage or heat retainer until you feel no pain.
- Ease down your training for a week or two but no need to stop completely unless you are getting pain.
- See a sports injury specialist
Grade 2: symptoms
- Unable to walk properly.
- Sudden twinges of pain during activity.
- Swelling.
- Bending the knee against resistance causes pain.
- Unable to fully straighten the knee.
What you can do
- Apply RICE: rest - slows down bleeding and reduces the risk of further damage; Ice - eases pain, reduces swelling, reduces bleeding initially; compression - reduces bleeding and swelling; elevation - reduces bleeding and swelling by allowing fluids to flow away from the site of injury.
- See a sports injury specialist.
Grade 3:
- Unable to walk properly without crutches.
- Severe pain.
- Immediate swelling.
What can you do?
- Seek medical attention immediately.
- Apply RICE: rest - slows down bleeding and reduces the risk of further damage; Ice - eases pain, reduces swelling, reduces bleeding initially; compression - reduces bleeding and swelling; elevation - reduces bleeding and swelling by allowing fluids to flow away from the site of injury.
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