hamstring strain

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   Our user asked: "Six months ago I suffered an injury to my left hamstring. I went through several weeks of PT and still stretch 2-3 daily. The muscle still gets a little sore at times and I wonder if I am stretching too much or too hard. I get a similar soreness in my right ham in the same location. I exercise riding my bike and doing light leg presses and ham curls. Should I continue to stretch and exercise as I am, back off, or modify something?"

Ask a PT Response: "With strethcing, I always tell my patients to stretch to a mild discomfort. A stretch should not be painful or forced. I usually recommend to them to stretch before and after activity. Strengthening of the hamstring mucle group should also be gradual and patients should not stress the hamstring too soon as this could result in further injury. As far as your stretching, are you performing a hamstring stretch in just one direction (straight) or are you performing a stretch in multiple directions (left, straight, right)? The hamstring is made up of medial (semitendinosus/semimembranosus) & lateral (biceps femoris) components and will require stretching at various angles to target each component. As far as continuing with activities, I tell my patients to let pain be there guide. If they should begin to experience some symptoms, they are instructed to back down from the activity. If the pain continues despite backing down they are instructed to discontinue the activity. Often times with repeat hamstring strains, I will find deficiencies elsewhere with my patients which could be contributors to this problem: ie muscle imbalance, other flexibility issues besides hamstrings, joint mobility, mechanics, posture, etc. May be a good idea to see your PT again if this problem continues."

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Ask a PT Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: Jul 07 2008 Status: Offline Points: 954	Post Options Post Reply Quote Ask a PT Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: hamstring strain Posted: Apr 20 2010 at 2:08pm
	Our user asked: "Six months ago I suffered an injury to my left hamstring. I went through several weeks of PT and still stretch 2-3 daily. The muscle still gets a little sore at times and I wonder if I am stretching too much or too hard. I get a similar soreness in my right ham in the same location. I exercise riding my bike and doing light leg presses and ham curls. Should I continue to stretch and exercise as I am, back off, or modify something?" Ask a PT Response: "With strethcing, I always tell my patients to stretch to a mild discomfort. A stretch should not be painful or forced. I usually recommend to them to stretch before and after activity. Strengthening of the hamstring mucle group should also be gradual and patients should not stress the hamstring too soon as this could result in further injury. As far as your stretching, are you performing a hamstring stretch in just one direction (straight) or are you performing a stretch in multiple directions (left, straight, right)? The hamstring is made up of medial (semitendinosus/semimembranosus) & lateral (biceps femoris) components and will require stretching at various angles to target each component. As far as continuing with activities, I tell my patients to let pain be there guide. If they should begin to experience some symptoms, they are instructed to back down from the activity. If the pain continues despite backing down they are instructed to discontinue the activity. Often times with repeat hamstring strains, I will find deficiencies elsewhere with my patients which could be contributors to this problem: ie muscle imbalance, other flexibility issues besides hamstrings, joint mobility, mechanics, posture, etc. May be a good idea to see your PT again if this problem continues."

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