What is a hamstring injury?
Hamstring injury occur when a muscle is strained or torn. Although this is often referred to as a pulled
hamstring, this is a colloquial way of saying it was strained. Hamstring strains and tears usually occur in
sprinting sports such as soccer, basketball, football, tennis, and track and field.
hamstring injury
Hamstring Injury – The Hamstring
The hamstring is actually a group of three muscles, called the hamstring muscle group. The
Semitendinosus, Semimembranosus, and the long head of the Biceps femoris run down the back of the leg,
beginning at the pelvis and ending below the knee. They are responsible for the movement of the knees and
the hips. The short end of the Biceps femoris ends earlier, at the femur, and only moves the knee.
Hamstring Injury – Strains and Tears
Hamstring injuries are usually in the Biceps femoris. They are placed into one of 3 Grades. The first two
are moderate to severe strains where the muscle is overstretched and a few muscle fibres are torn. Severe
hamstring strains can reduce the strength of the leg and cause limping, but any strain will take a few weeks,
at the most, to heal. Grade 3 hamstring injuries are severe muscle tears, where the muscle separates from
the tendon. They take months to heal and have lasting effects. They can ruin sports careers. In extreme
cases, the hamstring muscles can tear away from the bone, requiring surgery. Hamstring tears can even pull
away a piece of bone. However, these “avulsion injuries” rarely occur in sprinting sports. Even moderate
strains can result in a hamstring bruise just below the knee. Quickly spreading dark patches may signify
internal bleeding beyond bruised hamstrings, and require immediate medical attention. On average, pulled
hamstrings take around 14 days to heal.
Hamstring Injury – Causes
Hamstring tears and strains are usually the result of a sudden start or stop. When a sprinter begins running,
their hamstrings alternate rapidly between stretching to their limit and contracting to push the body forward,
usually called “eccentric contraction.” If the hamstring muscle is overly stretched or contracted, it can be
strained or torn. Additionally, pulled hamstrings often occur when a contracted muscle is stretched, which
often occurs during sprinting. When they are met with sudden loads, hamstrings can be strained or torn.
Since they’re also responsible for moving the hips, the muscles can be injured when a person’s knees are
locked (meaning the muscles are contracted) and their hips move rapidly. Waterskiing accidents are
responsible for many hamstring injuries, as people’s hips are forced to move rapidly while their hamstrings
are contracted. In fact, these are responsible for the worst tears, where a muscle actually removes a piece of
bone.
hamstring injury
Hamstring Injury – Risk Factors
Since bones may grow faster than muscles, adolescents may already have tight hamstrings, and therefore be
at greater risk. When the muscles are not conditioned for certain movements, they are less able to cope with
its stresses. When they become fatigued they cannot absorb as much energy. Poor conditioning and muscle
fatigue increase the risk of injury, which is why some studies have shown that more than half of the
hamstring injuries in the football season occur in the pre-season. Some experts believe that when the
quadriceps at the front of the thigh become more powerful than the hamstrings, this imbalance puts your
hamstrings at risk. Tight muscles are also a major cause, making stretching incredibly important.
However, the largest risk factor for a hamstring injury is a previous strain or tear.
Hamsting Injury