Hamstring Strain

What is Hamstring Strain?

A hamstring strain, also called a pulled hamstring, is an injury to one or more of the muscles at the back of the thigh. These muscles include the biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus. A hamstring strain can range from mild to severe, with severity classified into three grades. Hamstring strains are common in sports that involve sprinting, jumping, or sudden stops and starts, such as soccer, basketball, football, tennis, and track and field. The injury occurs when the muscle is overstretched or subjected to sudden force.

Symptoms

Diagnosis

Diagnosis involves: • Medical history to understand how injury occurred • Physical examination to assess tenderness, swelling, and muscle strength • Assessment of pain with knee flexion against resistance • Range of motion testing • X-rays to rule out bone injuries • MRI to determine grade of strain and extent of muscle damage • Ultrasound to visualize muscle tears • Evaluation of muscle flexibility and strength imbalances

Treatment

Treatment depends on severity and includes: • RICE protocol (rest, ice, compression, elevation) • NSAIDs for pain and inflammation • Crutches if weight-bearing is painful • Gentle stretching when acute pain subsides • Progressive strengthening exercises • Physical therapy focusing on eccentric strengthening • Gradual return to sport protocol • Prevention through regular flexibility and strengthening • Proper warm-up before activities • Surgery rarely needed (for complete tears with significant retraction) • Typically 6-12 weeks recovery for moderate strains