Hamstringinjuries occur when you strain or tear one of the muscles in the back of your thigh.
Depending on the punch in of injury, hamstring injuries can cause pain anywhere along the muscle.
Hamstring injuries range from a mild strainsometimes called a “pulled hamstring"to a complete tear.
Davizro / Getty Images
These injuries are graded based on their severity:
All grades of hamstring injuries can cause significant pain.
This pain is typically sharp and comes on suddenly when the injury occurs.
They also result in a complete loss of muscle function.
Healing time frames for hamstring injuries depend on the extent of muscle damage that has occurred.
Generally, a mild strain can recover within 10 days to three weeks.
Grade 3 strainshamstring tearsrequire surgery to fix.
After surgery, rehab is directed by aphysical therapist.
Full recovery after surgery, including returning to sports activities, can take six months or longer.
How to Treat a Hamstring Injury
A healthcare provider should evaluate any suspected hamstring tears immediately.
When to Resume Exercise
Resuming exercise too soon after hamstring injury can increase your risk of reinjury.
For example, if you’re a runner, start by taking a walk.
When you find that walking is pain-free, alternate short bursts of jogging with periods of walking.
Walking on a Hamstring Injury
Walking can be quite painfulor even impossibleimmediately after a hamstring injury.
You might need to walk with an assistive gear, such as crutches, while your injury heals.
Crutcheshelp unload body weight from your injured leg.
Summary
Hamstring injuries are common in athletes but can affect anyone.
These injuries vary in severity and recovery time.
The complete tearing of a hamstring muscle or tendon requires surgery to heal.
Physical therapy can often speed up the hamstring strain recovery process.
Learning how to return to activity safely after these injuries can help reduce the risk of reinjury.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Hamstring muscle injuries.
Harvard Health Publishing.Muscle strain.
University of Utah.Hamstring tear & surgery.
University of Wisconsin Sports Medicine.Rehabilitation guidelines following proximal hamstring primary repair.
