A hamstring strain is damage to the muscles in the back of the thigh. These muscles run from above the hip to the knee joint. A strain is a series of small tears in the muscle. The tendon attached to the muscle may also have some damage.
Posterior Thigh MusclesCopyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc. |
The damage may happen slowly over time or from an injury. Causes may be:
This problem is more common in male athletes. It is also more common in athletes whose sports involve high bursts of speed, such as running, hurdling, jumping, and kicking.
Other things that may raise the risk are:
Problems may be:
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. You may be asked about the activities that you do. An exam will be done on the leg. This is often enough to make the diagnosis.
Images may be taken to find out how much damage there is. This can be done with:
A small strain may heal in a few days. Severe strains may take a few months. Treatment may include:
To lower the risk of a hamstring strain:
American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
http://www.sportsmed.org
Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians
http://www.familydoctor.org
Canadian Orthopaedic Association
http://www.coa-aco.org
Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca
Hamstring muscle injuries. Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at:
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Updated July 2015. Accessed May 12, 2020.
Hamstring strain. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/hamstring-strain. Updated April 30, 2018. Accessed May 12, 2020.
Valle X, L Tol J, et al. Hamstring Muscle Injuries, a Rehabilitation Protocol Purpose. Asian J Sports Med. 2015 Dec;6(4):e25411.
Last reviewed February 2020 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board
Warren A. Bodine, DO, CAQSM
Last Updated: 4/9/21