Hamstring Pull Treatment in Knoxville

Causes of a Hamstring Pull

To put it simply, hamstring injuries happen when the muscles are stretched too far. Sprinting and any other sport that requires a ton of stress on the legs put participants at risk of hamstring pulls. Running, jumping, and kicking sports bring about the most hamstring injuries.  Like quad strains, hamstring pulls can vary greatly in severity, from muscle pulls (Grade 1 injuries) to complete hamstring tears (Grade 3).

Symptoms of a Hamstring Pull

When a hamstring injury occurs, oftentimes a “pop” is heard or felt in the back of the thigh. A varied amount of pain is felt immediately. Often, athletes must stop their activity and may not even be able to stand. Muscle spasms, tightness, and tenderness will occur and sometimes a raised defect can be felt when palpating (touching) the hamstring muscle. With a more severe injury, swelling, and a bruising appearance will follow.

Rehab Tips

A big part of recovery from hamstring injuries is making sure to do exercises that rebuild muscle instead of scar tissue, effectively preventing re‐injury. The active rehabilitation process starts with isometric exercises that contract the muscles but don’t move the joints, then moves onto exercise with light weights before starting with more strenuous exercise to steadily return to pre‐injury health, and hopefully with some extra strength to prevent future problems.

If you need treatment for a hamstring pull in Knoxville, TN, call us at (865) 337-5574 today to schedule an appointment.