Hamstring Injury

What is a hamstring injury, and how is it treated?

Topic at a Glance

Hamstring injuries range from mild muscle strains to complete tendon tears and commonly affect athletes and active individuals.
Symptoms can include sudden pain in the back of the thigh, swelling, bruising, weakness, and difficulty moving the leg.
Mild and moderate hamstring injuries are often treated with rest, medication, bracing, and physical therapy.
Severe Grade 3 hamstring tears may require surgical repair to reattach the tendon to the bone.

Hamstring Injury

A hamstring injury is one of the most common injuries affecting athletes and active individuals alike. Whether the injury is a strain or tear, treatment can safely get you back in the game.

Our board-certified orthopedic and sports medicine specialists at OrthoNeuro have many years of experience in helping those with hamstring injuries find pain relief through hamstring repair. Contact one of our offices in Columbus, OH, today to get the help you need!

What is a Hamstring Muscle Injury?

A hamstring injury is a strain (pulled muscle) or a tear in one or more of the three muscles located in the back of the thigh. The three muscles that make up the hamstring muscle group are the semitendinosus, semimembranosus, and biceps femoris.

The hamstring connects to the bottom of the pelvis at one end and extends to the knee joint to the lower leg. The hamstring muscle fibres join with the hamstring tendons close to the connecting point. The hamstring muscle group helps you bend your knee and extend your leg backwards.

Hamstring injuries occur when one or more of these muscles become overloaded, stretching them beyond their capacity. Risk factors for hamstring injuries include the following:

Activity in sports that include running and sprinting
Muscle imbalances with the quadriceps muscle at the front of the thigh
Muscle fatigue
Muscle weakness
Muscle tightness
Previous hamstring injuries
Advanced age

How is a Hamstring Tear Different from a Hamstring Strain?

Hamstring injuries can range from a pulled hamstring (strain) to complete tears. These terms refer to the severity of the injury. The 3 different grades of hamstring injuries are as follows:

Grade 1: These are mild strains or pulled muscles. Hamstring muscle strains tend to resolve after an adequate amount of rest.
Grade 2: These refer to partial tears of your hamstring muscles and are more moderate in nature. A partial tear can affect one or two of the hamstring muscles in the same injury.
Grade 3: These are the most severe hamstring injuries. This is a complete tear through all three hamstring muscles. In some cases, the hamstring tendon tears completely off the bone (hamstring tendon avulsion).

Signs of a Hamstring Injury

Depending on the severity, the signs of a hamstring injury will vary and can be found below:

Grade 1 strains are characterized by sudden, sharp pain radiating in the back of the thigh. It may be difficult for you to move your leg.
Grade 2 partial tears are more painful, and some bruising and swelling may occur. Additionally, you may notice a weakening in your leg strength, and the pain may prevent you from using your leg.
Grade 3 severe tears are the most severe, and you will feel intense pain, making it difficult for you to use your injured leg. You may have felt a popping sensation when the injury occurred. You may also experience swelling, bruising, and tenderness.

How Are Hamstring Tears Diagnosed?

During the physical examination of your hamstring injury, your specialist will ask for a detailed breakdown of your symptoms. They may test the amount of tenderness surrounding your hamstring muscles. In addition, an MRI may also be recommended.

Treatment Options for Hamstring Tears

Grade 1 and Grade 2 hamstring injuries respond well to conservative treatments.

Conservative treatment options may include the following:

Bracing or immobilization
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications
Physical therapy

For Grade 3 tears in which your hamstring is completely detached from the bone, surgical repair may be recommended by one of our highly-trained OrthoNeuro specialists. During this procedure, they will mobilize the tendon and reattach your hamstring to its proper anatomical position.

Make an Appointment with a Sports Medicine Specialist Today!

If you have been experiencing symptoms of a hamstring injury, schedule an appointment with one of our Board Certified Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Specialists today. OrthoNeuro has several convenient locations throughout Greater Columbus.

References

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hamstring-injury/symptoms-causes/syc-20372985

FAQs About Hamstring Injuries

What causes a hamstring injury?

Hamstring injuries are usually caused by overstretching or overloading the muscles during activities such as sprinting, running, jumping, or sudden changes in direction.

What are the symptoms of a hamstring tear?

Symptoms may include sudden pain in the back of the thigh, swelling, bruising, weakness, tenderness, and difficulty walking or using the leg.

What is the difference between a hamstring strain and a hamstring tear?

A hamstring strain is a mild stretching injury to the muscle, while a tear is more severe and may involve partial or complete damage to the muscle or tendon.

How are hamstring injuries treated?

Treatment depends on the severity of the injury and may include rest, anti-inflammatory medication, bracing, physical therapy, or surgery for complete tears.

When is surgery needed for a hamstring injury?

Surgery may be recommended for severe Grade 3 tears, especially when the hamstring tendon has completely detached from the bone.

Knee Specialists

IF YOU HAVE A SEVERE KNEE INJURY OR CHRONIC KNEE PAIN THAT REDUCES YOUR MOBILITY OR QUALITY OF LIFE, CONTACT ORTHONEURO TO SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION. OUR EXPERT ORTHOPEDIC SURGEONS ARE ON HAND TO DIAGNOSE AND TREAT YOUR KNEE PROBLEM.