That’s because this vital leg muscle helps in a number of activities, including walking, running and jumping. The most common injury to the hamstring is what medical professionals call a strain, though in this muscle a typical strain can sometimes be a quite serious injury involving a tear of the hamstring muscle fibers. Depending on whether the tear is vertical (up and down) or horizontal, surgical repair could become necessary.

For most people who pull the muscle or feel a sudden twinge of pain at the back of the leg after it has become fatigued from running or other activities, it is likely they’ve experienced a Grade 1 or Grade 2 hamstring injury, depending on the severity of the pain being experienced. Neither are considered medically serious and both can be treated fairly easily.

Those who feel a burning or stabbing pain, bruising at the back of the leg and an inability to walk without pain have experienced a Grade 3 strain, which is considered a severe injury. Usually, almost all hamstring pull therapies consist of the same initial regimen to start, and it is only the Grade 3 that may required more vigorous intervention if it doesn’t heal relatively quickly.

The acronym for the treatment of all three grades of injury is RICE, and it stands for “Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.” It should be employed immediately after any hamstring injury to help reduce or eliminate bleeding and damage in the muscle itself. It’s important to note that the lower grade strains (1 and 2) can quickly worsen if they aren’t treated properly, so keep that in mind.

Normally, a Grade 1 hamstring injury will require that the muscle be rested from vigorous activity for about 3 weeks, a Grade 2 for up to 6 weeks and a Grade 3 injury that has shown the muscle to be torn or ruptured for up to 12 weeks. If the hamstring is indeed that badly injured, surgical repair is often required. Also; if a slight Grade 1 hamstring strain is rested immediately, it can resolve (or heal itself) within 2 or 3 days, which should come as welcome news to athletes of all abilities.

For the first 5 days after the hamstring has become injured, no matter the grade or severity, the leg should be rested and elevated. An ice pack should also be applied to the injured muscle for 20 minutes every 2 hours for those first 5 days. Additionally, an ACE – or compression – wrap or bandage should be firmly applied to the thigh to support the muscle and take strain off of it while it heals. Once 5 days of initial rest is completed, active physical therapy may commence.

It is highly recommended that crutches be used to take the weight-bearing load off this muscle while it continues to heal, especially if any prolonged walking or moving about is going to be required during the first 5 days. After that, crutches should continue to be used as a part of hamstring treatment therapy for as long as necessary to return the muscle back to full strength. Remember; if an injury is suspected, institute RICE procedures immediately in all cases.

Not following these healing principles is fraught with danger because you are trying to trick nature. You should avoid hamstring treatments that don’t follow these rules.

Rest is imperative

For at least the 1st three days of your hamstring treatment – the acute phase – even slight use of the muscle should be avoided. The literature even records re-ruptures of the same site if the hamstring is employed too soon. By resting in this phase, less scar tissue forms.

What happens next

This is the paradox : use it or lose it!

Rest in the immobilization phase permits the scar to get some strength. In fact, after 10 days, the scar can be quite strong.

By working the muscle you can help the penetration of muscle fibres into the scar tissue, keeping down the scale of the scar and aligning the regenerating muscle tissue.

If immobilization continues past the acute phase the bad effects become especially visible after 3 weeks.

Hamstring treatment program

The 1st principle of a successful treatment plan is to never allow the amount of distress go above moderate awareness. On a measure of 0-10 of discomfort awareness, don’t do anything that exceeds three.

Expect to spend three weeks rehabilitating the hamstring pull. After the rest phase, start moving the muscle by walking or swimming. Then continuously begin putting more load on the muscle – but never do more than a ten percent increase in intensity between sessions.

Running programs are the no 1 concern in a hamstring treatment program, and you may use repeat 100m steps or flying 20m or flying 30m. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you progress to a plan punctiliously and dont bet. Remember when you go to the casino you can win, but in the final analysis the casino always wins.

Similarly important issues include when to ice the injury, how to test the severity of the injury, and when you need to visit a doctor or physiotherapist.