A “pulled hamstring” can pull you up alright, like to a halt. When one exclaims that painful suffering of a “pulled” hamstring, it generally indicates they caused a strain or tear in the muscle or its bone attaching tendon. Not a quick treatment fixer either.
Your hamstring is the muscle located in the back of each thigh. Its two major tasks is to extend your leg at the hip and bend your lower leg at the knee.
In many straining instances, the root cause for this type of injury is the imbalance of strength between your hamstrings and the significantly more powerful antagonist (opposing) muscle group of your quadriceps. In a movement situation, your quadriceps may have life left in them, while your hamstrings have reached their limit.
So often in the fatigue of overuse or the absence of an adequate stretch, a hamstring tear or strain will notice you that you have taken it way to far. The power of your hamstrings is your limiting factor for propulsion. And that fact must always be heeded or suffer the consequence of an extremely painful pull.
Hamstring injuries are brought to you in degrees, by symptoms of:
- mild strains ~ simple tightening
- more severe ~ sharp pain in full stride
- rupture or tear ~ inability to stand or walk
In some extreme hamstring tears, bruising may appear in a couple of days. Obviously, if you have experienced an extreme tear, like the inability to stand, it is probably enough indication that you need to pay your doctor a visit. Some sewing up might be necessary.
As with most sports injuries, R.I.C.E is the initial treatment of choice. Followed by strength and stretch rehabilitation.
The surest way to prevent a hamstring injury is to stretch it before you use it. Or risk your fitness and lose it. At least reach down in an attempt to touch your toes before you hit the field, or wherever.
You may also find some relief to your persistent back pain once you loosen up your otherwise tight hamstring muscles!