A pulled hamstring, also known as a strained hamstring, occurs when one or more of the hamstring muscles become pulled too far and begins to tear.
Hamstring injuries can occur mild, only with mild discomfort and a minimal recovery period.
The most common symptom of a torn hamstring is a sudden, severe pain in the affected muscle. Other symptoms may include weakness in the affected leg. The person will also experience difficulty in walking, running, or playing sports. Most hamstring injuries do not require surgery or crutches.
It is important to realize that if you do not get the treatment for your pulled hamstring as quickly as possible, your injury may worsen. A pulled hamstring can sometimes even be irreversible. If you notice any discomfort after you start to run, then stop immediately and call your doctor. This could indicate an injury or condition of the hamstring muscles, so it is best to be checked out right away. If you notice any redness, swelling, or extreme pain, then get the proper treatment right away.
The good news is that a minor injury is usually easily healed and won’t require any type of surgery. However, if you have a severe injury that has already progressed into a full blown situation then you should get yourself to the doctor as soon as possible. Even mild injuries and conditions should be assessed and treated.
Mild injuries and conditions are usually treated by a doctor or a physical therapist. The doctor may give you pain medication or recommend that you get some type of manual exercise to work on the muscles of the injured leg. Your physical therapist may recommend an exercise program to strengthen the affected area.
If you want to avoid having to take surgery to treat your hamstring injury, then it is highly recommended that you seek medical attention immediately. If your injury or condition continues to progress or gets worse, you should definitely talk to your doctor about getting the appropriate treatment. If you wait too long, then you could end up with permanent damage to the muscles.
Your physical therapist can provide exercises and manual therapy to help strengthen your muscles in a safe manner.
One way to get the best results from physical therapy is to make sure that you are using a stretching exercise program. to stretch your hamstring muscles and build strength in the muscles. Stretching exercises are highly recommended for people that have been pulled or have a pulled muscle injury. When you first notice any slight discomfort or tenderness in the hamstring or lower back, then you may need to make sure that you take some sort of gentle, slow stretching exercises.
Stretching will help improve the flexibility of your body and help prevent further injuries. It is very important that you do not forget to rest after you start your stretching. If you want to avoid pain while stretching, then do not lift heavy weights, even just lifting some light weights. This will help prevent further injury.
To begin your stretching, take the time to do stretches that use both of your legs at the same time. Try doing a squat, step, or a lunge to stretch your hamstrings and quadriceps. You will be surprised by how quickly your muscles will become tighter.
Warm ups are also important. It is important to include some kind of cardiovascular exercise or a short run every day for your hamstrings. The warm ups can help to build up the strength and flexibility of the muscles. It also helps to prevent future injuries.
While your hamstrings are being worked out, do not rest, but do some leg exercises. You can do squats, lunges, and jumping jacks. These exercises work the quadriceps and gluteal muscles as well as your hamstrings.
The best way to complete the entire hamstring stretching routine is to do two sets of each hamstring exercise. Each set will get a good workout but if you have a particularly hard set, then you may want to use a hamstring resistance band.
