Healed From Hamstring Ran Again and Felt Sore

May 14, 2022 Post a Comment

Hamstring Strain

Reviewed by Tyler Wheeler, MD on June 22, 2021

Unfortunately, hamstring strains are both common and painful. They strike athletes of all sorts -- including runners, skaters, and football, soccer, and basketball players.

But what is a hamstring? It isn't actually a single ''string.'' It's a grouping of three muscles that run along the back of your thigh. They allow yous to bend your leg at the human knee.

During a hamstring strain, one or more of these muscles gets overloaded. The muscles might fifty-fifty beginning to tear. You're likely to get a hamstring strain during activities that involve a lot of running and jumping or sudden stopping and starting.

Getting a hamstring strain is also more likely if:

You don't warm upwards before exercising.
The muscles in the front of your thigh (the quadriceps) are tight every bit they pull your pelvis forward and tighten the hamstrings.
Weak glutes. Glutes and hamstrings work together. If the glutes are weak, hamstrings can exist overloaded and become strained.

What Does a Hamstring Strain Experience Similar?

Mild hamstring strains may non hurt too much. But severe ones can be agonizing, making information technology impossible to walk or even stand up.

Other possible symptoms of a hamstring strain are:

Sudden and severe hurting during practice, along with a snapping or popping feeling
Pain in the back of the thigh and lower buttock when walking, straightening the leg, or angle over
Tenderness
Bruising

To diagnose a hamstring strain, a doctor or concrete therapist will give a thorough concrete test. They will inquire specific questions about how the leg was injured.

What'south the Treatment for a Hamstring Strain?

Luckily, modest to moderate hamstring strains commonly heal on their ain. You just demand to give them some time. To speed the healing, you can:

Residual the leg. Avert putting weight on the leg every bit best you can. If the hurting is severe, you may need crutches until it goes away. Inquire your doctor or physical therapist if they're needed.
Water ice your leg to reduce hurting and swelling. Do it for xx-30 minutes every three to four hours for ii to three days, or until the pain is gone.
Shrink your leg. Utilize an elastic bandage around the leg to keep down swelling.
Elevate your leg on a pillow when yous're sitting or lying down.
Take anti-inflammatory painkillers. Not-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn) will help with pain and swelling. However, these drugs may accept side effects, such as an increased risk of bleeding and ulcers. They should be used simply short term, unless your doctor specifically says otherwise.
Practice stretching and strengthening exercises if your md/physical therapist recommends them. Strengthening your hamstrings is one way to protect against hamstring strain.

In astringent cases where the muscle is torn, you lot may need surgery. The surgeon will repair the muscles and reattach them.

When Will a Hamstring Strain Feel Better?

Recovery fourth dimension depends on how badly you injured the hamstring. Go on in heed that people heal at different rates. While you get better, you should work the hamstring with a new action that won't aggravate the strain. For case, runners could effort doing laps in a pool.

Any yous do, don't rush things. Don't even attempt to return to your old level of physical activity until:

Yous can move your leg as freely as your uninjured leg
Your leg feels as strong as your uninjured leg
You experience no pain in your leg when you walk, then jog, then sprint, then finally jump

If you first pushing yourself before the hamstring strain is healed, you could re-injure the hamstring and develop permanent muscle dysfunction.

How Can I Prevent a Hamstring Strain?

As hamstring strains can be nasty injuries, athletes should work difficult to avoid them. After all, healing a hamstring strain is much harder than preventing information technology. Hither are some tips:

Warm up before and stretch after concrete activeness.
Boost the intensity of your concrete activity slowly -- no more than a 10% increase a week.
End exercising if you experience pain in the back of your thigh.
Stretch and strengthen hamstrings as a preventive measure out.