Hamstring Strain

HAMSTRING STRAIN PREPARED BY MOHD ARAAF B. ZAKARIA 2006813252

Anatomy of hamstring

INTRODUCTION • A hamstring injury or a pulled hamstring is a tear in one of the hamstring muscles (semitendinosus, semimembranous and biceps femoris) • If you have taken an impact in the back of the leg it must be treated as a contusion. Usually the muscle is forcibly stretched beyond its limits and the muscle tissue becomes torn.

Hamstring strain is classified in to 3 category :• 1st degree • Strain is damage to few muscle fibers

• 2nd degree • Strain is damage to a more extensive number of muscle fibers.

• 3rd degree • Strain is a complete rupture of the muscles itself

Causes • An isolated athletic activity (acute) • Persistent repetitive stress (chronic) • Hamstring strains often occur while – sprinting – jumping and – other activities where quick start and stop are required

Causes • It often results from an overload of the muscles or trying to move the muscles too fast • inadequate warm-up/stretching • poor lower back flexibility • abnormal biomechanics

• High risk sports for hamstring strains are :• Soccer • Football • Baseball • Basketball • Track and field events

Sign and symptoms • Grade 1 – May not be present until after the activity is over – Cramp or tightness in the thigh – Slight feeling of pain when the muscles are stretched or contracted – May be able to walk properly – Probably won’t have much swelling

• Grade two – More severe than the pain of a grade one injury – Pain on stretch and contraction of the muscle – Usually sore to touch – Probably cannot walk properly – May notice swelling – Pressing in causes pain – Bending the knee against resistance causes pain – Might be unable to fully straighten knee

• Grade there • Immediate burning or stabbing pain • Completely torn and there may be a large lump of muscle tissue above a depression where the tear is • Unable to walk properly without the aid of crutches • In severe pain • Bad swelling appear immediately • Expect to be out of competition for 3 to 12 weeks or more

Treatment for hamstring strain injury

• R.I.C.E • Anti-inflammatory medicine according to your health care provider’s prescription (Advil or ibuprofen) • Ultrasound and electrical stimulation • Rehabilitation program • Using crutches if it is too painful to walk

Prevention • Warming up properly and stretching your hamstring muscles prior to your activities (especially important in sprinting or jumping) • Regularly deep tissue sport massage can help prevent muscle strains • Conditioning and strengthening the muscles not only the hamstring muscles but the lower back as well. • Hamstring sleeve, which will provide support, warm and compression to the strained hamstring.

stretching and exercises for hamstring