Hamstring tears take a long time to heal, the symptoms persist and they have a high rate for re-injury. Due to this, they pose a problem for successful treatment. Here at Root Cause Medical Clinic, we too have had our fair share of frustrations dealing with this difficult condition. The degree of difficulty associated with this condition implies that traditional methods of treatment and rehabilitation were most likely inadequate. The latest research in the area provides some good news for patients and physical therapists alike.

What Is A Hamstring Strain?

First, let’s discuss what happens with hamstring strains. A “strain” is the medical word for when a muscle is “pulled” or tears. The hamstrings are a group of large muscles at the back of the thigh. They are comprised of four different muscles, together called the hamstrings. They are very important in the movement of your hips and knees. They are typically a strong muscle group, able to withstand a lot of force. However, since they cross two joints, they are also very prone to tightness.

What Causes Hamstring Injuries?

You may have heard someone complaining of their tight hamstrings – perhaps it was you! Trainers frequently encourage their clients to properly “stretch their hamstrings”, and such stretching is an integral part of training for dancers and athletes.

Hamstrings can get injured, much like any large muscle group. Most injuries occur in young athletes, runners, sprinters, dancers, gymnasts, and weekend warriors. At Root Cause Medical Clinic, we have seen hamstring tears in athletic individuals as well as those with no sports background.

When no athletic reason is present, causes may be due to weak quadriceps, poor core and pelvic strength, ligament laxity, weakness of the hamstring, low back pain, and the list continue. Due to the long list of potential causes, treatment cannot occur successfully without identifying the root cause, something we specialize in at Root Cause Medical Clinic.

The patient usually will feel sudden pain at the back of the thigh and may hear an audible pop. Some patients will experience pain with walking while others will have pain with sitting. Straightening the knee may also be painful, as well as palpation to the back of the thigh. Most hamstring tears occur at the base of the buttocks, which is the origin point of the muscle, but in rare cases, the pain can be found mid-thigh or close to the knee. The pain is nagging and often the patient has tried icing and stretching, only to find temporary relief. The pain returns. A hamstring strain can be mistaken for sciatic nerve pain as well but that would be an incorrect diagnosis.

Hamstring tears must be carefully evaluated by a physical therapist. Root Cause Medical Clinic does specialized diagnostic tests to locate the place of the tear or strain. Tests will shed light on the underlying root cause, but we also evaluate any additional factors present that could have contributed to the tear.

Once the comprehensive evaluation is complete, tailor-made treatment begins. Traditionally, physical therapists have addressed hamstring tears with stretches and strengthening techniques. The problem was that it never totally healed the problem. Re-injury was one of the biggest drawbacks to this traditional method of treatment, which is why we do so much more at Root Cause Medical Clinic.

We know that successful treatment involves addressing the function of more than just the hamstring muscle. We focus on the type of exercises that give the most benefit to all muscles involved in the injury, such as strengthening the core, hip, and pelvic floor muscles. Manual therapy plays a large role in healing and the use of deep friction manual therapy via specialized tools helps to improve scar tissue that may have built up around the tendon and the muscle belly of the muscles involved. Manual therapy is one of our specialties at Root Cause Medical Clinic A combination of all these therapies is a must for a successful outcome.

Finally, a crucial part of the rehabilitation protocol is to assess if the patient or athlete is ready to participate in his or her sport or activity of choice. As experts, physical therapists can determine the correct timing and activity level for re-entry into the activity of choice.