Hamstring Strain

The reason is almost always the same: returning before the muscle has regained the strength and length capacity the injury took away.

What it feels like

A sudden sharp pain at the back of the thigh, often during a sprint, sometimes with a sensation of something tearing. Difficulty continuing. Later, pain on stretching and on resisted knee bending, and often bruising appearing over the following days.

Why it happens

The hamstrings are loaded heavily during the late swing phase of sprinting, when they are lengthening and contracting at the same time. Contributors include inadequate strength at long muscle lengths, fatigue, a sudden increase in sprint exposure, and previous hamstring injury, which is the strongest risk factor of all.

How we treat it

Early management, then progressive loading with particular emphasis on strength at long muscle lengths, this is the best-supported element of hamstring rehabilitation. Then running progression, then sprinting, then return.

What to expect

Assessment will grade the injury and establish where in the muscle it sits. Expect the rehabilitation to include sprinting before you return, returning to sport without having sprinted in training is a common route to reinjury.

How long it takes

Varies considerably with severity. Minor strains may be weeks; more significant tears take longer. The temptation to return early is strong and it is the main cause of the high recurrence rate.