Hamstring Injury

Symptoms can start suddenly during activity. In milder cases, pain may build up during or after exercise.

Common symptoms include:

• sharp pain in the back of the thigh

• a pulling or tearing feeling during sport or exercise

• a popping or snapping feeling in more severe injuries

• tenderness when touching the back of the thigh

• swelling or bruising, which may appear after a few hours

• muscle tightness or stiffness

• muscle spasm

• weakness in the affected leg

• difficulty walking, standing, bending the knee, or climbing stairs

• pain near the lower buttock, especially when sitting

You should seek urgent medical advice if your pain is severe, you cannot walk, swelling or bruising is getting worse, or your symptoms are not improving after self-care.

A hamstring injury usually happens when the muscle is forced to stretch beyond its normal limit. This can happen during fast, powerful movements, especially when the muscle is tired or not fully warmed up.

Common causes include:

• sprinting

• jumping

• sudden stopping or changing direction

• overstretching the leg

• slipping or falling

• returning to sport too soon after a previous injury

• increasing training too quickly

Risk factors for hamstring injury

Some people have a higher risk of hamstring injury. Risk factors include:

• previous hamstring injury

• poor flexibility

• muscle weakness or imbalance

• tired muscles

• not warming up before exercise

• sudden increases in training load

• sports such as football, rugby, tennis, athletics, and dancing

• poor running technique

• reduced core, hip, or glute strength

At your initial consultation, your consultant will ask about your symptoms, how the injury happened, and whether you were able to keep moving afterwards. They’ll also ask about your medical history, sports, work, and any previous injuries.

A physical examination may include checking:

• where the pain is

• how much swelling or bruising there is

• how well you can move your hip and knee

• muscle strength

• walking pattern

• signs of a tendon injury or a more serious tear

In some cases, your consultant may recommend imaging tests to confirm the diagnosis, grade the injury, or check whether the tendon has pulled away from the bone. These may include:

• ultrasound scan

• MRI scan

• X-ray, if a bone injury is suspected

A clear diagnosis helps your consultant recommend the right treatment plan and a safe return to activity.

It’s not always possible to prevent a hamstring injury, especially during sports or accidental falls. However, you can reduce your risk.

Helpful steps include:

• warming up properly before exercise

• building fitness and training load gradually

• avoiding sudden increases in speed, distance, or intensity

• doing regular strength and flexibility exercises

• strengthening your glutes, hips, and core

• cooling down after sport

• stopping activity if you feel hamstring pain

• avoiding intense exercise when you’re very tired

• following a physiotherapy plan after a previous injury

If you’ve had a hamstring injury before, prevention is especially important. Returning to sport too soon can increase the risk of another injury.

Most hamstring injuries improve with the right treatment and rehabilitation. However, complications can happen, especially if the injury is severe or you return to activity too quickly.

Possible complications include:

• ongoing pain or tightness

• reduced strength

• repeated hamstring injuries

• scar tissue in the muscle

• reduced sporting performance

• difficulty returning to usual activity

• tendon retraction in severe tears

• longer recovery if the injury is not managed properly

Severe injuries can take weeks or months to heal. Complete tears may need specialist treatment and sometimes surgery.

Treatment depends on the severity of the injury, your symptoms, your activity level, and your goals. Mild injuries often improve with self-care, while more serious injuries need consultant-led treatment.

Treatment options may include:

• protection and rest – stopping the activity that caused the injury and avoiding movements that worsen pain

• ice – using an ice pack wrapped in a towel for short periods during the first few days

• compression – using a suitable bandage to help reduce swelling

• elevation – raising the leg when resting

• pain relief – using suitable over-the-counter pain relief, if safe for you

• physiotherapy – guided exercises to rebuild strength, flexibility, and control

• gradual return to sport – a structured plan to reduce the risk of re-injury

• imaging-guided treatment – in selected cases, depending on the injury and specialist advice

• surgery – rarely needed, but may be recommended for a complete tear or tendon injury

During the first few days, it’s usually best to avoid heat, massage, and alcohol, as these can increase swelling. As pain improves, gentle movement can help stop the muscle from becoming stiff.

At Welbeck, our orthopaedic consultants are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.

Get in touch today to book an appointment.