The hamstring is a muscle which
extends the hip joint and flexes the knee joint. Pulled hamstring muscles are a common
occurrence with sprinters. Sudden accelerations
or suddenly stopping can throw a hamstring muscle out of whack.
A mild case – or Grade I - can tear the muscle
fibers with overstretching. The muscle
attempts to contract, while being forced in the opposite direction. This may cause bruising in the back of the
thigh due to bleeding in the muscle fibers.
This leads to swelling – pooling
up of blood. Compressive bandages are
generally used for this condition. To
reduce swelling, keep the body part elevated above the heart. A spasm is a contraction
of the bruised muscle, which creates further episodes of pain. Muscle relaxants may quiet the spasm.
Rest immediately.
Use ice packs and compressive bandages and gently stretch and massage
the hamstring muscle. If using ice, it
becomes much less effective after the first 48 hours. Be sure to move the ice
around the muscle as in a massage. Do
not ice for more than 15 minutes at a time, or frostbite and further damage may
occur. Wait about one hour between
icing intervals, and use a thin towel between the ice and the skin.
Difficulty contracting and flexing
the muscle means that the hamstring muscle may be ruptured – which is the most
severe case of hamstring injury – Grade III – and may require surgery.