Thigh Supports

Hamstring Pulls: They’ll Slow Down Your Giddyup!!

Signs & Symptoms     |     Treatment     |     Prevention

The group of muscles that run down the back of your thigh are all part of your hamstrings. Any time you have an activity that requires sprinting with many sudden starts and stops, a hamstring injury is possible. Sports like soccer, baseball, or tennis can have a high risk of a hamstring pull or strain.

A strain on your hamstring muscles is attributed to overstretching or even tearing the muscle fibers in the back of your leg. This can be accompanied by a sharp pain or even a popping or tearing sensation. Depending on the severity of strain, a bruise may even develop on the back of your leg and you may have trouble straightening or bending your leg. Anyone who has ever pulled a hamstring is very familiar with the symptoms.

While a hamstring injury can be painful, the number one thing you need to do for a proper hamstring injury recovery is to have patience. The protocol of RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) is the most effective treatment for a muscle strain and is no different for your hamstring. In severe cases, surgery may be required, but that decision will come from your doctor.

• Applying ice to your injury can minimize swelling and start the healing process. A great way to get cold therapy to your injured hamstring is the Carex Thera-Med Universal Cold Pack. It allows you to target the injured area and molds to your body for more effective relief.
• To combine ice therapy with compression, the Aircast Thigh Cryo/Cuff is anatomically designed to fit your thigh/hamstring area and provides proper compression while allowing cryotherapy to soothe the injury.
• Another way to provide compression to your recovering hamstring is through the use of elastic bandages or neoprene sleeves such as the Advanced Orthopaedics Neoprene Thigh Sleeve Support. It provides warmth, equal compression, and excellent support to muscles.
• While recovering, the use of NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen or naproxen, can be used to reduce pain and swelling.

Once you have allowed your hamstring to heal, you should be cautious not to reinjure it.

• One way is to use Biofreeze Professional Pain Relieving Gel Pump. It can soothe and relax sore muscles by increasing local blood flow and has been used by trainers in all major sports. This can keep the muscle loose so you don’t reinjure it.
• Another way to warm up your hamstring before the activity is the Biofreeze Classic Pain Relief. This water-based formula minimizes greasy residue while keeping your muscle warm and minimizing the risk of reinjury.
• Your doctor may recommend a stretching regimen or even yoga to strengthen your hamstring. Pulled hamstring stretches not only elongate muscles but strengthen them as well.
• You can even do hamstring injury exercises to strengthen your muscles and avoid future strains and pulls. One way to help you strengthen your hamstring is to use Thigh Weights. Their neoprene band allows for easy adjustments and weight can be added incrementally to slowly build strength and not reinjure your leg.
• Once you have started any exercise program after a hamstring injury, it is possible you may experience some soreness. An interesting way to deal with this is to use a TENS machine on the hamstring. The BodyMed EV8 Digital TENS Unit for the hamstring has all you need for effective sore muscle relief. It’s the same technology used by doctors!!

Most importantly, when getting back into your favorite activity the number one thing needed is patience. Doing too much too soon increases your risk of injury and possibly a longer recovery.

Read more on Hamstring Strain 

• Hamstring Injuries in the Athlete: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Return to Play
• An Evidence-Based Approach to Hamstring Strain Injury

Where to buy Aids for Hamstring Injury Relief?

HPFY offers a wide range of pain relief products effective on hamstring injuries and other muscle pain concerns. Shop from HPFY and save big on everything you purchase.

 

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