Hamstring Strain (Pulled Hamstring)

Grade one Hamstring strain

There may be a sensation of Hamstring cramp/ tightness and a slight feeling of pain when the muscles are stretched or contracted.

Grade two Hamstring strain

• immediate pain which is more severe than the pain of a grade one injury.
• It is confirmed by pain on stretch and contraction of the muscle.
• sore to touch.

Goals

• Protect healing tissue
• Minimize atrophy and strength loss
• Prevent motion loss

Precautions

• Avoid excessive active or passive lengthening of the hamstrings
• Avoid antalgic gait pattern

The immediate treatment of a Hamstring muscle injury consists of the POLICE protocol –

P- protect

O- optimal

L-loading

I - ice

C-compression

E- elevation.

This is aimed at reducing the bleeding and damage within the Hamstring muscle tissue.

After the early stages have been spent resting, more active rehabilitation can be started. Realistically, for best results this should be started as early as possible.

Rehab

• Ice – 2-3 times daily
• Stationary bike
• isometric exercise
• Single leg balance
• Balance board
• Strengthening exercise
• Progressive hip strengthening
• Painfree isotonic kneesflexion
• Active sciatic nerve flossing
• Normal walking stride without pain
• resistance exercise

Soft tissue mobilisation /IASTM

• Deep tissue release
• Electro therapy
• Pulsed ultrasound , Conventional TENS
• Dry needling:- dry needling is a technique that has been reported to be beneficial in the management of pain and dysfunction after muscle strains and in combination with an eccentric training program.
• Kinesiology tape:- Kinesiology tape can be used in combination with other rehabilitation programmes to improve muscle flexibility. Efficient at improving muscle flexibility, which can prevent or improve the risk of having injuries.

A hamstring strain or 'pulled hamstring' is a tear to one of the hamstring muscles at the back of the thigh.

A strain is characterised by immediate pain at the back of the thigh and can cause a loss of function.

This is one of the most common sporting injuries, especially in sports that involve kicking, sprinting, and other high-speed movements.

Hamstring strains are strains graded 1, 2, or 3 depending on how bad they are. 

If you’ve had hamstring pain for a longer period of time and started very gradually, this is more likely a hamstring tendinopathy.

Hamstring injury is likely to occur during the late swing and late stance phase of running. This injury can cause significant loss of training and competition time.