Hamstring Injury – Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Hamstring Injury – Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Hamstring refers to both, the set of three muscles that are at the back of the thigh stretching from the hip to the point above the knee, as well as the tendons that connect these muscles to the pelvis and shin bone. While the hamstring is not used a lot for everyday activities like walking, they do play a huge role in anything athletic that involves lunging, knee bending, running, etc.

A hamstring injury is painful but most often it can be relieved with rest and medication. It rarely requires aggressive forms of intervention.

Causes of Hamstring Injury

A hamstring injury is quite common among people who play a lot of sports.

Any kind of sudden and jerky movements can result in a hamstring injury i.e., any movement that overloads the hamstring muscles and tendons.

The muscles might also suffer a tear as a result of overload.

Sudden bursts of running and coming to a sharp halt often injure the hamstring.

A gradual injury to the hamstring is also possible and it need not necessarily be sudden.

Other than athletes, even dancers are prone to hamstring injuries.

It is essential to warm up before an activity to prevent a hamstring injury.

Weak gluteus muscles also indirectly contribute to a hamstring injury as the hamstrings get overloaded.

Once the hamstring is injured, there is always the possibility of it getting injured again. Read More