What is a hamstring strain?

A strain is a stretch or tear of a muscle or tendon. People commonly call such an injury a "pulled" muscle. Your hamstring muscle group is in the back of your thigh and allows you to bend your knee. It is made up of three large muscles: the biceps, semi membranosus, and semi tendinosus.

How does it occur?

A hamstring muscle strain usually occurs when these muscles are contracted forcefully during activities such as running or jumping.

What are the symptoms?

You will often feel a burning or a popping as the injury occurs. You will have pain when walking or when bending or straightening your leg. A few days after the injury, you may have bruising on your leg just below the injury.

How is it diagnosed?

Your doctor will examine your leg and find tenderness at the site of the injury.

How is it treated?

Treatment may include: applying ice packs to your hamstrings for 20 to 30 minutes every 3 to 4 hours for 2 to 3 days or until the pain goes away elevating your leg by placing a pillow underneath it wrapping an elastic bandage around your leg for compression to keep the swelling from getting worse taking anti-inflammatory medication according to your doctor's prescription using crutches if it is too painful to walk. As you return to your activity, you may be given an elastic thigh wrap to give extra support to your hamstrings. While you are recovering from your injury, you will need to change your sport or activity to one that does not make your condition worse. For example, you may need to swim or bicycle instead of run.