Hamstring Physical Therapy
You may not know it, but there is a pretty good chance you’ve witnessed a hamstring injury unfold. Think back to a time when you may have been watching an athlete run, whether it be in the stands at a high school football game or from your home, perhaps watching a track meet at the Olympics. One minute, the athlete is taking picture-perfect strides toward their goal, and then they come to a halt, limping and reeling in pain, holding the back of their thigh.
You have just seen a hamstring injury, and although what the future holds for this athlete may be hanging in the balance, one thing is for sure: that athlete will be taking part in physical therapy in the very near future.
Hamstring Muscles: Explained
The back of the thigh is primarily made up of the hamstring muscles. Some people think it is just one giant mass of muscle, but it is actually three muscles. Tendons help hold the large muscles in place at the pelvis and at the knee. When one of those muscles is injured, the muscle fibers tear, causing pain, redness and swelling at the injury site.
Hamstring Injuries
There are different types of hamstring injuries.
Grade 1: Pulled: A pulled hamstring doesn’t necessarily involve tearing, but rather, occurs when the muscles are quickly stretched, and the muscle fibers are damaged as a result. A pulled muscle can heal with proper rest in a few days to one week.
Grade 2: Partially Torn: A partially torn hamstring occurs when the muscles are stretched so far that they begin to tear. Depending on the severity of the tear, this injury can take several weeks or months to heal.
Grade 3: Fully/Completely Torn: This is by far the most severe of all the hamstring injuries. A full tear occurs when the muscle separates entirely from the bone and is no longer attached. The back of the leg will have a trademark “bulge” and is often very swollen with heavy bruising. This rare injury causes excruciating pain and the individual often describes hearing a “popping” sound at the time of the injury.
Although hamstring pulls are most frequently associated with athletes, they can happen to anyone. Simple, daily activities like walking down the stairs, turning to walk from point A to point B, or even kicking can be the cause of a hamstring injury.
How to Avoid Hamstring Injuries
-Wear shoes that are comfortable and fit properly
-Warm up properly
-Work for adequate proportions in leg muscles
-If you have a previous injury that is not fully healed, consider reducing strenuous activity that involves heavy hamstring use.
Hamstring Physical Therapy in Miami
When you suffer a hamstring injury and need physical therapy in Miami, you want to make sure you choose a physical therapist that has:
-Vast experience with hamstring injury patients
– An excellent reputation and testimonials from previous clients
-Convenient locations (you’ll be spending a lot of time in rehab, so getting there should be quick and easy).
-Options for in-home physical therapy or cyber rehab (it may be difficult to be out and about in the first days of your injury.
-Aqua Therapy (it can reduce muscle stress while increasing mobility)
Our job at Physical Therapy Now is to help you with your hamstring injury and get you back to work as soon as possible. We take pride in providing comprehensive care and making sure you are healing in a way that is healthy and productive. We have the expertise on staff to handle every aspect of your hamstring injury, so if you need physical therapy in Miami, reach out to us today at (800) 481-4582. We’re here for you, and we’re here to help. Let’s get that hamstring healed so you can get back to doing what you do best!
