Sore Hamstring
Causes of a Sore Hamstring
The hamstring consists of three muscles that are grouped together to allow you bend the knee and extend the hip during exercise, and overexertion, injury or other conditions can lead to a painful and sore hamstring. For most people, a sore hamstring is can be easily treated and recovered from, but in some cases it may by a symptom of a more serious condition.
The hamstring is composed of 3 muscles, the bicepfemons, semitendononus and semimembranosus muscles attached behind the knee. These muscles are susceptible to swelling, soreness and pain due to simple overexertion. Improper stretching or over use can cause tiny tears to develop in the muscles. Even quick movements or sudden changes in direction can result in muscle strains. These micro tears can cause discomfort and swelling, but usually heal quickly with proper treatment. Working the muscle during exercise too hard without proper conditioning is the most common cause of a sore hamstring. Muscle sprains or sometimes called muscle pulls, create various degrees of tears in the muscle fibers depending on the type of injury.
There are three grades of muscle strains: grade I, grade II and grade III strains. Grade I muscle strains of the hamstring heal quickly, usually taking about two weeks, while Grade II muscle strains display as partial tears that require longer than six weeks to heal. The most serious form of muscle strain that can affect the hamstring is grade III or a complete tear of the muscle. This type of injury is very painful and occurs when the muscle tears away from the tendons. Surgery or therapy may be required to heal this type of muscle tear and recuperation may take months.
Treatments for a sore hamstring due to overuse or strain depend on the level of severity. For almost all muscle injuries the first treatment should include the RICE method. RICE stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation. Rest is required to allow the muscle fibers to begin the healing process and ice helps reduce swelling and speed up recovery time. Ice also helps with pain management. Compressing the injured muscle reduces swelling along with elevating the muscle. Muscle strains that are more serious may require physical therapy to help the muscle to heal quickly and properly. Some of these types of treatments may include range of motion exercises, stretches, heat and ice therapies and deep tissue massage. Severe cases of complete muscle tears of the hamstring may require surgery. Over the counter anti-inflammatory medications may be taken to aid in pain relief and to reduce muscle swelling. Muscle creams are also available to help soothe soreness and often a hot bath or soak will help with the uncomfortable feeling.
Preventing a sore hamstring can be accomplished by properly stretching before exercise and maintaining good muscle conditioning to prevent overuse. Everyone gets sore muscles every now and again; it is usually a sign to take it easy for a few days before continuing exercise or to limit strenuous activity. Good posture is also important to keep all of the muscles in line. Remember that the hamstring muscles are connected to the back and quads too, so properly stretch all of your muscles before activity.
Severe pain that is relieved by the cessation of exercise, or discoloration that lasts for more than three days may be a sign of a larger Peripheral Vascular disease. Insufficiency of the veins or arteries can affect the legs and prevents blood flow from going to or leaving the muscle. Extreme cases can cause Deep Vein Thrombosis, or a swelling of the veins deep in the legs. These conditions may be more serious and should be checked by a doctor.