Physical Therapy & Hamstring Injuries

What are Hamstring Injuries?

A Hamstring strain injury is one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries to occur in the athletic population. 

In most cases, hamstring injuries are managed with physical therapy although surgery can be indicated in severe injuries. A hamstring injury occurs when 1 or more of the 3 hamstring muscles or tendons (soft tissue connecting muscle to bone) tear. This happens when excessive force is placed across the muscles during sudden starts or stops while running, a rapid change of direction with “cutting” or jumping maneuvers, or when the muscle is overstretched by activities such as sprinting, hurdling, kicking, or heavy lifting. The symptoms commonly are sudden, sharp pain in the buttocks or back of the thigh, a feeling of a “pop”, swelling, or difficulty sitting and walking.  Worst of all, there is a 33% chance of re-injury with the greatest risk in the initial 2 weeks of return to sport. Often times this is due to an inadequate rehabilitation program or a combination with a premature return to sport.

Are you at Risk?

            The injury typically occurs as you reach your front leg out in front of you while running. During this period your hamstrings both lengthen and contract strongly to slow your leg down as your foot touches down. The mechanism is similar in dance or martial arts with extreme stretch and strong muscle contraction occurring simultaneously during kicks or jumps. While this sounds like a motion to avoid, it is a common phenomenon in everyday activities. Certain individuals are at a higher risk for injury with common risk factors being a lack of flexibility, muscle imbalance, fatigue, an insufficient warm-up, and a prior hamstring injury.

Why Physical Therapy?

A good rehabilitation program treating both the site of injury, and prevention of future occurrences can help limit healthcare costs and promote a safe, efficient return to activity. Our examination will identify risk factors prior to the injury, as well as deficits caused by the injury (i.e. pain, swelling, weakness, ROM). Education and training on prevention is also important to decrease your risk of re-injury. While all physical therapists are prepared through education to treat hamstring injuries, you need someone who is experienced with sports-related conditions and how to return you to sport quickly through high quality corrective exercise. Our physical therapists both hold their Doctorate in Physical Therapy, and are Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialists, skilled at improving athletic performance.

What do we do?

             Depending on when the injury occurred and what is found during the examination process, our interventions will vary. Typically, following an acute injury, pain relief is our primary goal with an increased focus on flexibility, strength, etc. as the acute pain resolves. As you progress back to more normalized movement we utilize a hands-on approach to move and manipulate muscles and joints while restoring the muscles and tendons back to full strength. Completing a computerized gait analysis is often indicated and can further identify ways to reduce the risk of re-injury.