Hamstring strains occur when your hamstrings muscle or tendon is stretched beyond what they can withstand or torn when substantial stretching of the muscle occurs. Hamstring strains are fairly common in sports activities requiring the athlete to forcefully run or jump. A hamstring strain is also called a pulled hamstring or hamstring tear.

An inflamed hamstring tendon is called hamstring tendonitis. Your hamstrings or hamstring muscles are located at the back of your thigh. You have three hamstring muscles. Together, they help bend your knees as you lie face-down; lift your foot toward your back (without bending your hip); and help you walk normally.

Causes of hamstring strains

Hamstring strain occurs when any of your hamstrings or its tendon is overstretched, overused, or overexerted during a sports or recreational activity such as sprinting, kicking or jumping. Exercising improperly, such as increasing the duration or intensity of your workout too much or too soon, may also lead to hamstring strains.

Physiotherapy Treatment Options for Hamstring Strains

Depending on the severity of your hamstring strain, you may be receiving a combination of the following;

• Recommend rest
• Ice and or heat application
• Electrotherapeutic modalities such as ultrasound or TENS
• Recommend crutches / Crutch walking training
• Gentle range of motion exercises
• Gentle stretching (manual or active)
• Progressive strengthening exercises
• Work or sports-related strengthening program
• Patient education
  • About your condition
  • Precautions to observe
  • Activity or work modification
  • Injury prevention
• Rehabilitation program

With appropriate management, patients with minor hamstring strains can usually recover in one to three weeks. With larger tears, recovery may take four to six weeks or longer depending on the severity. In cases of a complete rupture of the hamstring muscle, surgery may be considered with intensive rehabilitation to follow. Return to sport or activity may then take 6 months or longer.