Home > Blog > Physiotherapy > Conditions > Hamstring Injuries Physiotherapy

Hamstring Injuries Physiotherapy



A hamstring strain injury happens when 1 or more of the 3 hamstring muscles or tendons (at the back of the thigh) is torn, either partially or completely.

In fact, hamstring injuries are one of the most common injuries of the lower body, particularly affecting athletes participating in sports involving high-speed running, such as

  • football
  • soccer
  • track

After tearing a hamstring muscle, the patient is 2 to 6 times more likely to suffer a subsequent hamstring re-injury. In most cases, hamstring strain injuries are successfully managed with physiotherapy.

What are Hamstring Injuries?

The hamstring muscle group includes 3 muscles along the back of the thigh that connect the pelvis to the leg. They are the primary muscle group responsible for straightening (extending) the hip and bending (flexing) the knee.

The 3 hamstring muscles are:

  • Semitendinosus
  • Semimembranosus
  • Biceps femoris

The anatomy of muscles includes the muscle “belly,” the portion that contracts (tightens) or relaxes to move a limb, and the tendon, the portion that connects the muscle belly to the bone. Hamstring strain injuries occur when there is damage to the muscle belly caused by excessive force being generated while the muscle is being stretched.

This type of injuries typically happens during high-speed running, with sudden starts or changes in direction, or when the muscle is overstretched by activities such as sprinting, hurdling, kicking, or heavy lifting.

Risk factors for hamstring strain injuries include:

  • A history of prior hamstring strain injury
  • Hamstring weakness
  • Increasing age
  • Poor flexibility of the quadriceps and hip flexors (muscle tightness)
  • Inadequate warm up before activity
  • Muscle fatigue

How Does a hamstring injury Feel like?

When a person experiences a hamstring strain injury, they will feel/experience a sudden pain at the back of the thigh.

Hamstring pulls and injuries happens very quickly and causes the individual to stop performing an activity. The symptoms caused by a mild injury may only last for a few days; symptoms of a more severe hamstring injury can last for weeks.

Common hamstring injury symptoms include:

  • A sudden, sharp pain in the back of the thigh or in the buttocks
  • A feeling of a "pop" or tearing in the muscle
  • Bruising within hours or days after the injury
  • Tenderness to touch in the affected area
  • Difficulty sitting comfortably, lifting the leg when lying down, or straightening the knee
  • Difficulty walking or running, resulting in a limp

How Is hamstring injuries Diagnosed?

Diagnosis of a hamstring strain injury starts with a thorough understanding of your health history and the cause of the injury. The questions our senior physiotherapists may ask include:

  • What were you doing when you first felt the pain, and did you feel a “pop"?
  • Where do you feel the pain now?
  • Did you notice any bruising after the injury?
  • What were you not able to do immediately following the injury, and how have you been functioning since the injury (eg, walking, sleeping, lifting your leg)?
  • Have you had a similar injury before?

We will also perform a clinical evaluation, including some of the following tests and measures to determine the nature of your injury:

  • Observation, to note any discoloration or bruising
  • Pain assessment, to identify your current pain level, and the activities that make your pain better or worse
  • Palpation (gently pressing with the fingers), to pinpoint the location and size of the tender area through touch, which will help determine the severity of the injury
  • Range-of-motion test, to compare the motion of your injured leg with your healthy leg
  • Muscle-strength test, to determine the strength of the hamstring muscles when bending or straightening your knee and hip
  • Gait analysis, to note any limping or changes in how you are walking

Typically, hamstring strain injuries are classified as Grade I, II, or III depending on how mild, moderate or severe the injury is:

  • Grade I: Mild strain with minimal tearing; usually feels like a pulled or cramping muscle.
  • Grade II: Moderate strain with partial tearing; may cause a stinging or burning sensation at the back of the thigh.
  • Grade III: A severe, complete muscle tear; may result in a “lump” on the back of the thigh where the muscle has torn.

If we suspect a severe injury (Grade III), you will likely be referred to an orthopedic doctor for medical diagnostic imaging, such as an X-ray or MRI, to evaluate the extent of the injury.

In the event of a fracture of the ischial tuberosity (the “sit-bone,” part of the pelvis) and/or a complete rupture of the muscle, surgery may be recommended.

how our senior physiotherapists can help

Immediately after experiencing a hamstring strain injury, seek help from our senior physiotherapists. Before the physical therapy session with us, you can:

  • Rest the injured area by avoiding aggravating activities, such as walking or working out. If you are having notable difficulty walking, you may need crutches. Do not over-stress the injured area.
  • Apply cold therapy to the injured area 3 to 4 times a day for 15 to 20 minutes (with a towel placed between your skin and the ice).

We will design an individualized treatment program specific to the exact nature of your injury and your goals. Your treatment may include:

Manual therapy

We are trained in manual (hands-on) therapy to gently move and manipulate muscles and joints to improve motion, flexibility, and strength. We may gently massage and move the affected area to encourage healing. These techniques can target areas that are difficult to treat on your own.

Range-of-motion exercises

Although it is common for your hamstring muscles to feel stiff after an injury, it is important not to stretch these muscles early in the recovery process. We will indicate when it is safe and appropriate to begin gentle flexibility exercises, and will guide you through how to do them in the clinic and at home.

Muscle strengthening exercises

Hamstring strengthening will be an essential part of your rehabilitation program. We will compare the strength of the muscle groups in each leg, and prescribe and teach you specific exercises to target areas of weakness.

Functional training

As you regain the strength in your hamstrings, your movement quality will need to be assessed so you no longer put excessive stress on the previously injured area. We will develop a functional training program for the hamstring muscle group, with a gradual progression back to more demanding activities.

In the event that the severity of your hamstring strain injury requires surgical treatment, our senior physiotherapist will guide your postoperative hamstring physiotherapy rehabilitation. We will communicate with your surgeon to ensure complete and consistent postoperative care.



Back to Top

book an appointment today
(or check your pains / injuries)

Phoenix Rehab Physio Services

Phoenix Rehab Group works with specialist physiotherapists and rehab therapists who are highly trained, qualified, experienced and passionate to provide high level of expert care to our patients.



HAND THERAPY & CUSTOMIZED SPLINTING

Patients who sustained injuries to their elbows, forearms, hands, wrists (sprains and fractures) and fingers, usually will benefit / require Hand Therapy to

  1. manage and decrease hand pains
  2. improve range of motion, strength and dexterity
  3. increase the function of their hand following injuries or post-operations

Commonly treated hand pain injuries includes



REFORMER CLINICAL PILATES & WELLNESS PILATES

Clinical Pilates is a form of physical exercise that focuses on posture, core stability, balance, control, strength, flexibility and breathing.

It is a system of safe and effective exercises, which meet specific individual needs, to treat a wide range of injuries and conditions.

You may do Pilates as matwork or with the reformer or both, and every session will be customized 100% to your fitness, injury and tolerance.



TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM)

  • Cupping TCM
  • Auricular Therapy TCM
  • Herbal TCM Medicine & Supplementation



DEEP TISSUE RELEASE & SPORTS MASSAGE THERAPY

Sports and deep tissue release massage helps to increase nutrient-rich blood flow to tired, tight and tense muscles to accelerate recovery and  shorten downtime / recovery period required.

It also prevents muscles from scar tissue micro-tears (and potential ruptures), and increases muscle performance. Having regular deep tissue and sports massage will keep your muscles healthy and fit with body/movement-confidence.

Read the benefits of regular deep tissue release therapy here.



ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES

All our allied health therapists and TCM physicians are fully insured and registered with Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC) and Traditional Chinese Medicine Board (TCMB).

See our entire team here with introductions and their specializations.

At the first session, our specialist physiotherapists will carry out a thorough assessment, helping them to select the most appropriate treatment to help you recover as well as provide treatment in the same session.

Follow up sessions are inline to provide expert treatment for your pain as well as prescribing specific exercises to reduce your risk of re-injury and giving you a long term solution.

do Tell Your Family, Friends And Colleagues About Us =)

We appreciate you as our valued clients and want you to know that the # 1 way we grow as a clinic / brand is through word of mouth referrals from valued patients like yourself.

We prefer not to rely on advertising - instead, we prefer and appreciate the goodwill and positive reinforcement from patients. When you have the chance, please tell your family, friends and physicians about the positive results and experience you have had in our physio clinics.

book an appointment today
(or check your pains / injuries)

Recent Articles

RSS

  1. Physiotherapy and Hand Therapy at Tampines Singapore

    Jan 18, 23 03:01 AM

    Phoenix Rehab Physiotherapy and Hand Therapy at Tampines Singapore

    Read More

  2. Germaine Sim Hand Therapist

    Dec 11, 22 03:43 AM

    Germain Sim is a hand therapist practicing hand therapy, splinting, assessing and treating finger, hand and elbow pains in Phoenix Rehab

    Read More

  3. Adele Ang Principal Physiotherapist Singapore

    Jun 29, 22 08:32 AM

    Adele is a registered physiotherapist with over 25 years of experience including treating national athletes as well as recreational athletes having worked in Singapore Sports Council and Singapore Spo…

    Read More

  4. Achilles Tendon Pain Physiotherapy

    Feb 03, 22 04:05 AM

    Achilles tendon pain is very common among recreational and elite sportspeople. But it is also common among sedentary individuals

    Read More

  5. Tendonitis Physiotherapy & Hand Therapy

    Feb 03, 22 12:16 AM

    Tendonitis, tendinopathy and tendinosis are all tendon injuries and treated by physiotherapists and hand therapists

    Read More

  6. Cervical Spondylosis Physiotherapy

    Jan 11, 22 02:01 AM

    Cervical spondylosis is a general term to describe the degenerative condition in the neck which results in pain and other symptoms

    Read More

  7. Tendon Pain Tendinopathy Physiotherapy

    Jan 07, 22 12:28 AM

    Tendinopathy (tendon injuries) can develop in any tendon of the body and has many names such as tendinitis and it can be treated with good tendon physiotherapy

    Read More

  8. The importance of staging and compression in tendinopathy physio

    Dec 15, 21 01:47 AM

    Tendon problems are common in runners and can become a persistent issue if not properly treated.

    Read More

  9. Tendon Pain Physiotherapy and Hand Therapy

    Dec 14, 21 11:23 PM

    Pain and pathology in a tendon, known as tendinopathy, is a common injury in athletes that can be difficult to manage. Physio and hand therapy can help healing

    Read More

  10. Tendon Injuries Physiotherapy, Hand Therapy, TCM & Massage

    Dec 07, 21 01:31 AM

    We use the world’s best tendon recovery programs through cutting edge treatment techniques for all tendon injuries (and tendon injuries differ accordingly)

    Read More