Hamstring tears or strains are typically caused by stretching the soft tissues and muscles beyond their limits. Diagnosing a hamstring strain and what grade it is must be done by a qualified physiotherapist.
Types of a hamstring tear or strain
- Grade 1 — a mild injury that heals within a couple of weeks.
- Grade 2 — a moderate injury that is typically a partial tear in the muscle; patients are likely to limp when walking and will have occasional twinges of pain during activity.
- Grade 3 — severe injury where the muscle is completely torn, or a lump of muscle tissue is torn and can take months to heal.
Symptoms of a hamstring strain
- Grade 1 — tightness in the muscle while stretching, inability to fully move your leg from bent to straight, and inability to bear weight on the leg affected.
- Grade 2 — reduced muscular strength, limping when walking, and pain when bending the knee.
- Grade 3 — severe, sudden, sharp pain in the back of the thigh, inability to extend the knee more than 30 to 40 degrees, inability to walk without pain, and severe bruising around the impacted area.
Causes of hamstring tears
In many cases, the patient will suffer from a hamstring tear or strain when running. Other causes of hamstring tears or strains:
- Limited or lack of warm-up before exercising
- Poor muscle strength or muscle fatigue
- Tight hip flexors or weak glutes
- Differences in leg length
- Poor flexibility
Book in with a physio ASAP
Ensuring you see a physiotherapist gives you the most effective way of achieving optimal recovery. The correct rehabilitation must be done to meet your needs and goals.
