The hamstring is a large  group of muscles in the back of the thigh, it is made up of three muscles, the semimebranosus, semitendinosus and biceps femoris. Their main function is to bend your knee and extend your hip. When you over exert your self during a running sport, a hamstring strain commonly feels like a ”pulling” feeling on the back part of your thigh, sometimes it can occur behind your knee your near you buttock. This is why it is commonly referred to as a ‘pulled hamstring’ or a `torn hamstring`.Depending on the severity of the injury it is usually graded from 1-3. The recovery time of a pulled hamstring injuryalso depends on the degree of the tear.

Causes are usually due to a decreased range (flexibility) of the hamstring muscles. The hamstring can also be influenced by altered position of your pelvis or by altered length in other structures such as your quadriceps thus influencing how the hamstrings works This is commonly referred to as muscle imbalance.We at Active Physiotherapy and Acupuncture can asses you for these imbalances in strength and length and address them accordingly.

SYMPTOMS
Pain in the hamstring area.Depending on the grade/severity of the strain this can vary from a tightness or cramp like sensation to a sharp severe pain.
Pain on stretching the affected hamstring
Pain and sometimes weakness on resisted activity of the muscle

TREATMENT
Prompt treatment is wise as Hamstring strains if not treated can easily become a chronic problem. In the first 24hrs RICE is recommended Rest Ice Compression and Elevation . Here at Active Physiotherapy we can assist you with this early stage of treatment this controls bleeding and limits any further damage to the area. Once the acute phase is over we can assist you with recovery of normal movement and guide on a progressive supervised resisted exercise programme.

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