Hamstring injury
A hamstring injury usually occurs during exercise. For example, this injury can occur when you sprint, make an explosive start or suddenly slow down. Furthermore, it can also occur in everyday life, for example when you make a wrong movement. Curious about more information, such as how to treat it? Then feel free to read on. We will be happy to explain it to you.
What is a hamstring injury?
The muscles at the back of the thigh are called the hamstrings. Usually, a hamstring injury occurs during sports, but it can also occur in everyday life. Incorrect movement can cause one of the muscles to tear or strain. You will then feel a severe pain in the middle of your hamstring.
The symptoms of a hamstring injury
In a hamstring injury, you feel a fierce pain in your upper leg. This is accompanied by a feeling of cramping. This makes it difficult to bend your leg and makes walking very painful. Stretching or tightening the muscle is also painful. The site of the injury may become stiff. In some cases, a bruise develops on the back of the thigh after a few days.
Treatment
If the hamstring injury has just occurred, it is important to avoid painful movements until you know how serious it is. It is important to take some rest for the first few days. If you can walk, jog and climb stairs without pain, this does not immediately mean you can go back to playing sports. There is a big difference between everyday activities and explosive movements during sports. We recommend stretching the muscles every day. This will prevent the hamstrings from becoming stiff. You can usually resume sport after 4 to 6 weeks. Wearing an upper leg brace can provide support when resuming activities.
Preventing hamstring injury
If you have already suffered a hamstring injury once, it is more likely to happen again. It is therefore important to do special exercises regularly. An extensive warm-up beforehand and a cool-down after exercise are essential to prevent another injury. When the muscles are properly warm, the chances of a strain or tear are much lower.
