Hamstring Injuries

The hamstring muscles:

are the large set of power muscles that span the back of the thigh from the lower pelvis to the back of the shin bone. A hamstring injury is common in sports like football, skate, running and etc, which is mostly caused by sudden burst of speed.

• Symptoms
• Swelling
• Bruising and discoloration on the back of your thigh
• A sudden and sharp pain behind the upper leg
• An inability to put weight on your injured leg.
• Possible popping or snapping sensation

The initial treatment of the hamstring injury is that the hamstring should be rested in an elevated position (using a pillow) Applying an ice pack to the injured parts is very helpful for twenty minutes every two hours, but not directly to your skin. That will help limit the swelling and inflammatory reaction. Plus, gentle stretching is okay, which, however, should not be done aggressively. These are common treatments used for the hamstring injury.

Runners recovering from hamstring injuries need to focus on strengthening muscles – slow lunges, eccentric heel drops, and so on. Core strength exercises can also improve muscle function, which will reduce the risk of sustaining a hamstring muscle strain during or after a run.