How long hamstring

These muscles include the:. These muscles, which are in the back of your thigh, help bend your knees during activities like jumping and running. While anyone can tear their hamstring, the injury is most common in athletes. In addition to athletes, older people are prone to hamstring tears. Adolescent athletes, who are still growing, are also at risk.

Since bone and muscle grow at different rates, the growing bone can tighten the hamstring muscles, making them more susceptible to injury.

Grade 1 is mild hamstring strain , which is also called a pulled hamstring. If the hamstring stretches to the point where it rips, the injury is considered a tear. Hamstring tear grades include:. Compared to a grade 1 strain, a grade 2 tear is more painful. The most severe hamstring tear is a grade 3 hamstring tear. It occurs when the hamstring muscle rips completely or tears off the bone. A tear that pulls the muscle off the bone is called an avulsion.

The back of your thigh will also be extremely painful and swollen. In a hamstring tear, the muscle fibers stretch so much that they rip. A strain, on the other hand, is when the muscle is only overstretched. At your appointment, a doctor will do several things to determine if you have a torn hamstring. This might include a:. Torn hamstring treatment depends on the grade of your injury. In general, treatment options include:. The RICE method is the first line of treatment for most sports injuries.

The surgeon will fix the tear with stitches. What Causes a Hamstring Strain? Some of the more common things that can contribute to a hamstring strain include: Not warming up properly before exercising.

Tight muscles are much more likely to strain than muscles that are kept strong and flexible. Being out of shape or overdoing it. Weak muscles are less able to handle the stress of exercise, and muscles that are tired lose some of their ability to absorb energy, making them more likely to get injured.

An imbalance in the size of your leg muscles. The quadriceps, the muscles at the front of your legs, is often larger and more powerful than your hamstring muscles.

When you do an activity that involves running, the hamstring muscles can get tired more quickly than the quadriceps, putting them at greater risk of a strain. Poor technique. If you don't have a good running technique, it can increase the stress on your hamstring muscles. Returning to activities too quickly after an injury.

Hamstring strains need plenty of time and rest to heal completely. Trying to come back from a strain too soon will make you more likely to injure your hamstring again. Jog in place for a minute or two, or do some jumping jacks to get your muscles going.

Then do some dynamic stretching — ask your coach or an athletic trainer to show you how. After you play, do some static stretches where you gently stretch your muscles, holding each stretch for 30 seconds or more. Keep your muscles strong and flexible year-round. Get regular exercise and adopt a good stretching program so your muscles don't get a shock when you do an intense workout. Increase the duration and intensity of your exercise slowly.

If you feel pain in your thigh, stop your activity immediately. If you're worried that you might have strained your hamstring, give it time to rest and don't go back to your activity until your leg feels strong, you have no pain, and you can move your injured leg as freely as the other one.

What's the Treatment for a Hamstring Strain? Limit the amount of walking you do, and try to avoid putting weight on your leg if your doctor recommends this. Use a bag of ice or a cold compress to help reduce swelling for the first 48 hours after the injury. This should begin as soon as possible after the injury and then every 3 to 4 hours for 20 to 30 minutes at a time until the swelling is gone.

Wrap the ice or ice pack in a towel. These injuries are common with athletes who participate in sports where they must sprint. Hamstring tears or strains are typically caused by stretching the soft tissues and muscle beyond their limits.

In many cases, the patient will suffer from a hamstring tear or strain when running. Other causes of hamstring tears or strains:. Risk factors of a hamstring tear or strain are similar to the causes. People who have poor flexibility, poor strength, muscle fatigue and those who do not warm up properly are at greatest risk for developing a hamstring tear or strain. The immediate symptom of a hamstring tear or strain is a sudden, sharp pain in the back of the upper leg.

The pain may be so severe it stops you from continuing your activity. A hamstring injury is diagnosed in a visit with your primary care or orthopedic provider. The doctor will take a full medical history and physical exam.

During the physical exam, the doctor will evaluate the swelling, tenderness and range of motion in the leg. In moderate tears or strains, the physician may be able to feel a divot in the muscle.

Your provider may also order diagnostic testing, like an MRI or x-ray, if he or she thinks you have sustained other, more serious injuries that need a different treatment regimen. Mild to moderate strains can often be treated at home with rest, ice, compression and elevation in combination with anti-inflammatory medications.