Hamstring Injuries: Treatment with Physical Therapy

A sharp, sudden pain in the back of your thigh. Swelling and weakness in your leg. Hamstring injuries can definitely put a halt to your training sessions. Fortunately, we offer physical therapy for hamstring injuries so you can get back in the game and reduce your chances of suffering another injury in the future.

Hamstring strains are common sports injuries. They often occur during activities that involve sudden movements like starting to sprint or from an activity like lunging. Left untreated, they can lead to prolonged discomfort and a higher risk of re-injury.

Physical therapy at Legacy Physical Therapy & Wellness offers a comprehensive approach to managing hamstring injuries. Our therapists use a combination of techniques to reduce pain, strengthen the affected muscles, and restore your leg’s function. This personalized treatment not only aids in immediate recovery but also helps prevent future injuries by addressing the underlying causes of the injury.

Curious about what physical therapy for hamstring injuries looks like? Keep reading!

Understanding Hamstring Injuries: Symptoms and Causes

Hamstring strains occur when the hamstring muscle tears, either partially or completely. Several factors make it more likely that you’ll develop one:

• Participating in sports or activities that require a lot of jumping or sprinting
• Having tight hamstring muscles from a previous unresolved injury
• Weakened hamstring muscles, especially when compared to the quadriceps
• Not warming up adequately

The symptoms of a hamstring strain will vary somewhat based on its severity:

Grade 1 (Mild Strain)

• This involves minor muscle fiber damage and usually develops due to overuse. Symptoms include mild pain and tenderness at the back of the thigh. You might feel a slight pull or tightness, but usually, there is minimal swelling and no loss of strength.

Grade 2 (Moderate Strain)

• A Grade 2 injury involves a partial tear of the muscle fibers. Symptoms include more intense pain, swelling, and noticeable bruising. You may have difficulty walking or bending your knee. Physical therapy for hamstring injury at this stage is essential to ensure proper healing and to prevent further damage.

Grade 3 (Severe Tear)

• This is the most severe type of hamstring strain, involving a complete tear of the muscle. Symptoms are severe pain, significant swelling, and bruising. You may not be able to walk without assistance. Immediate medical attention and a comprehensive rehabilitation program are crucial for recovery.

How Physical Therapy Treats Hamstring Injuries

The good news is that physical therapy is an effective choice for treating hamstring injuries. At Legacy Physical Therapy & Wellness, we’ll create a customized treatment plan pulling from a variety of different interventions, including the following:

Manual Therapy

• Manual therapy techniques, such as soft tissue manipulation and myofascial release, can help reduce pain, alleviate muscle tension, and improve blood flow to the injured area, facilitating your body’s natural healing processes.

Stretching Exercises

• Targeted exercise forms the foundation of our treatment plans, and we’ll start by working to restore the flexibility of your hamstring muscles through simple stretches.

Strengthening Exercises

• As your hamstring’s range of motion improves, we’ll also work on strengthening exercises. While we’ll strengthen your hamstrings, we’ll also help strengthen the surrounding muscles, such as your glutes, to ensure a balance between muscle groups.

Injury Prevention

• Finally, we’ll help you address any underlying issues contributing to your hamstring strain. This might mean developing a good warm-up and strengthening routine to keep your hamstrings flexible and strong or a cross-training program to help prevent muscle imbalance and overuse.

Physical Therapy for Hamstring Injuries: We’re Here to Help!

Are you dealing with pain and stiffness in your hamstring? The earlier you address that discomfort, the better off you’ll be. Even a minor hamstring strain can set you up for a more serious injury down the road.

Schedule an appointment with Legacy Physical Therapy & Wellness today to get started.