subject: Chiropractor In Abington Pa | Muscle Injuries: Hamstring Pulls And Strains
[print this page] You probably know an athlete who's "pulled a hamstring." You may have pulled one yourself, even if you're not an athlete. Read on to learn what it means, and how best to recover.
3 Types of Muscle Strains
First, a quick review of hamstring anatomy:
There are three hamstring muscles in the back of each of your legs. They begin at your lower pelvis, cross at your knee, and stop at the back of your shin. They're connected to your bones with tendons. Their job is two-fold: to bend your knees, and to pull your thighs backwards from your hips.
When you get a hamstring strain, or a "pulled hamstring," you tear the hamstring muscle fibers. There are three grades of tears:
- Grade 1 - The fibers are stretched too far, resulting in mild bleeding.
- Grade 2 - A partial tear occurs in the muscle.
- Grade 3 - The muscle is severely torn or ruptured. It may be completely separated from the bone.
In all cases, the sudden pain will quickly tell you that something went wrong.
Symptoms of a Muscle Strain
Here are some ways to tell which grade of injury you've suffered:
- Grade 1 - You'll feel tightness in your hamstrings, and more discomfort when you walk. You may notice swelling in the area. Bending your knee against resistance hurts a little.
- Grade 2 - You'll have difficulty walking, and may limp. You may also feel stabs of pain with active movements. Bending your knee against resistance hurts a lot, and you may not be able to straighten it.
- Grade 3 - You'll notice swelling immediately, along with severe pain. You'll find it very hard to walk without help or crutches.
Diagnosis of a Strain
Your doctor will check the back of your thigh for swelling, and press it to assess weakness and pain. A Magnetic Resonance Imaging test (MRI) or X-rays will allow a better look at the damage.
Treating a Hamstring Strain
The most crucial time for proper healing of your torn hamstring is within 48 hours of your injury. Fortunately, there are some important things you can do. They're known as RICE:
- Rest - Stay away from activities that aggravate the injury. You can use crutches for walking.
- Ice - Apply cold packs to the injured area several times a day. Hold them in place for 20 minutes at a time (but not on bare skin).
- Compression - An elastic compression bandage helps minimize swelling and blood loss.
- Elevation - When you're resting, lay back and prop your leg up higher than your heart. This also reduces swelling.
Healing from a Strain
Your doctor or a sports therapist can prescribe techniques to aid your healing. These include massage, ultrasound, and gentle stretching. They help maintain flexibility and range of motion during the down time. Patience is a virtue as well, since the down time can last for months.
Athletes and non-athletes alike can suffer from pulled hamstrings, and find themselves in pain on the sidelines. With proper care - and a little patience -, you'll be back in the game with a full recovery.
