Hamstring Injury Treatment

The term 'hamstring' refers to the muscles that are typically found behind the leg. There are 3 hamstring muscles that are located along the back of the thigh. In other words, these muscles run from the pelvis (the structure that supports limbs) up to the knee. Their main function is to bend the knee while walking or running. Also referred to as a pulled hamstring or a hamstring strain, a hamstring injury typically causes rupture or tear of any of three muscles. Sprinters and even people playing games like soccer and basketball are vulnerable to this type of injury. Over stretching the muscles and its associated tendons, which puts undue strain on the muscles, or an accident involving the back of the thigh can cause a hamstring injury. Swelling and pain of the injured area that interferes with day-to day activities is the most common symptom of hamstring injury.

Hamstring Injury Treatment
How to cure a hamstring injury? There are effective treatment methods to overcome from a hamstring injury. Some of them are listed below:

Avoid Hurting Pulled Hamstring: This can be achieved by taking adequate rest. One should intentionally stay away from activities that can aggravate this injury. Take rest immediately after injury and as much as possible until the pulled hamstring does not show any signs of inflammation and pain. Activities like running or jumping are out of question. Even normal walking is put on hold for a stipulated period, in case the injury is severe. In some cases, the patient is asked to use crutches to reduce the strain and provide support while walking.

Application of Ice: Ice therapy is an inexpensive solution to get rid of the pain and swelling. Ice treatment is also extremely effective for hamstring tendon injury, especially, when it is used within 48 hours of injury. In fact, immediate application of ice after injury can provide a great amount of relief to the damaged tissues and reduce the swelling considerably. It is recommended, that in the course of treatment, the sufferer should ice the injury daily for 15-20 minutes every 4-5 hours. Make sure that the ice cubes are not in direct contact with the skin.

Compression Bandage: Damage to the calf muscles can result in internal bleeding. In order to minimize bleeding and swelling, use of compression bandage is the best option. Wrap the bandage tightly over the affected area to get relief from pain.

Painkillers: The doctor may also prescribe anti-inflammatory medications to decrease the pain and swelling. Pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Motrin) and aspirin are commonly prescribed to ease the pain.

Massage: Another form of hamstring injury treatment, involves use of massage techniques. Daily sports massage can increase blood circulation in the injured part of the leg, thereby helping to restore normal functioning of the muscles.

Surgery: A severe blow to the leg that results into complete rupture of the muscles may require a surgery in which torn muscles are again joined by stitches.

Elevation of the Injured Leg: When it comes to treating hamstring injuries, doctor often advice to keep the injured area elevated above the chest, to speed up healing. Elevation of the leg boosts blood circulation which helps to reduce swelling.

Hamstring Injury Treatment Exercises
Exercises can play a crucial role to repair a pulled hamstring and are an integral part of a hamstring strain rehabilitation program There are quite a few stretching exercises that help to strengthen a damaged tissue. Exercising during the first 3-4 days of injury is certainly not recommended. The doctor may assess the injury and then decide whether it is feasible to carry out exercises. Exercises such as standing hamstring stretch, standing calf stretch or hamstring stretch on wall may cause slight discomfort initially. This is normal and there is nothing to worry about. Once the pain has completely vanished, one can go for hamstring strengthening exercises such as hamstring curl. These exercises will surely benefit to facilitate the pulled hamstring recovery.

Prevention
An easy way to prevent hamstring injuries is to perform a warm up routine before any physical activity such as running or bicycling. Weight training exercises also help to strengthen the hamstrings, thus minimizing the risk of injuries.

Keep in mind that the recovery time will vary from person to person, and hence, one should not be in a hurry to start normal activities. The aforementioned hamstring injury treatment will be discontinued only when the patient does not experience any pain during normal motion of the leg, and is able to freely move the leg without any discomfort.