WHAT IS A HAMSTRING TEAR?
The hamstring is a group of three muscles known as semimembranosus, semitendinosus, and biceps femoris that run along the back of the thigh from the hip to the knee and help you extend your hip and bend your knee. Hamstring tears occur when one or more of these muscles get overstretched, strained, or pulled. They are common in dancers and athletes of all sorts including runners and those who play football, soccer, basketball, tennis, etc.
Injuries to the hamstring can be graded as I, II, or III depending on the severity of the tears. In grade I, the muscle is mildly damaged and slightly stretched. In grade II, there is a partial or incomplete muscle tear. In grade III, there is a complete tear of the muscle into two halves. If untreated, hamstring tears may lead to prolonged and chronic pain in the thigh, and eventually result in permanent muscle dysfunction.
CAUSES OF HAMSTRING TEARS
Some of the causes of hamstring tears include:
- Poor conditioning or weak muscles
- Muscle tightness or poor flexibility
- Incomplete healing of prior hamstring injury
- Overtraining of hamstrings
- Athletic injuries due to extreme stretching or overload
- Muscle imbalance between two muscle groups (hamstring versus quadriceps)
- Muscle fatigue or reduced energy-absorbing ability of the muscle, making them more prone to tears
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF PARTIAL HAMSTRING TEARS
Some of the signs and symptoms of partial hamstring tears include:
- Sharp, sudden pain
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Weakness
- Tenderness
- A popping or tearing sensation
- Inability to weight-bear
- Limping
DIAGNOSIS OF PARTIAL HAMSTRING TEARS
In order to diagnose hamstring tears, your Celina Chiropractor may perform a thorough physical examination in which the injured leg is maneuvered in a variety of positions to elicit symptoms of hamstring tears as well as look for signs of tenderness, bruising, and swelling along the back of the thigh. Imaging studies such as an MRI and ultrasound may be ordered to confirm the diagnosis. An MRI may be ordered to detect the degree of tear of hamstring muscle tissue. An ultrasound may be employed for detailed imaging of the hamstring muscle tissue and other surrounding structures.
TREATMENT FOR PARTIAL HAMSTRING TEARS
Most partial hamstring tears can be treated with non-surgical remedies such as:
- ChiropracticCare: Chiropractic care releases tension in the spine and joints of the body which in turn receives muscle pain, tightness and soreness. Getting adjusted regularly reduces the chance of suffering a hamstring injury.
- Acupuncture: Acupuncture is used to reduce swelling and inflammation of the injured muscle(s). Combined with chiropractic and laser therapy is it the best method to fix hamstring strains quickly.
- Laser Therapy: Laser therapy helps reduce pain and swelling. It uses a red and violet light to penetrate the skin and get to the injured tissues.
- Soft Tissue Therapy: Soft tissue therapy aims at releasing tight and overstimulated muscles so that they don’t get hurt again once the hamstring strain is healed. Couple it with chiropractic care and it’s a match made in heaven!
- Functional Training: Level up your game after treatment with functional training with Crystal! Avoid future injuries by training in those painful movements.
- Activity modification: Avoid participating in activities that can strain hamstring muscles or cause hamstring pain.
- Immobilization: Immobilize the injured leg with a knee splint to help heal the torn muscle.
Surgery
Surgical intervention is rarely required to treat partial hamstring tears. However, if non-surgical treatment options fail to relieve symptoms, hamstring surgery may be recommended in which your surgeon will fix the tear with sutures to resolve the problem. Following surgery, rehabilitation is usually recommended to improve strength and range of motion.
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