Hamstring muscle where is it

The quadriceps, the muscles at the front of your legs, is often larger and more powerful than your hamstring muscles. When you do an activity that involves running, the hamstring muscles can get tired more quickly than the quadriceps, putting them at greater risk of a strain.

Poor technique. If you don't have a good running technique, it can increase the stress on your hamstring muscles. Returning to activities too quickly after an injury. Hamstring strains need plenty of time and rest to heal completely. Trying to come back from a strain too soon will make you more likely to injure your hamstring again. Jog in place for a minute or two, or do some jumping jacks to get your muscles going. Then do some dynamic stretching — ask your coach or an athletic trainer to show you how.

After you play, do some static stretches where you gently stretch your muscles, holding each stretch for 30 seconds or more. Keep your muscles strong and flexible year-round.

Get regular exercise and adopt a good stretching program so your muscles don't get a shock when you do an intense workout. Increase the duration and intensity of your exercise slowly. If you feel pain in your thigh, stop your activity immediately. If you're worried that you might have strained your hamstring, give it time to rest and don't go back to your activity until your leg feels strong, you have no pain, and you can move your injured leg as freely as the other one.

What's the Treatment for a Hamstring Strain? Limit the amount of walking you do, and try to avoid putting weight on your leg if your doctor recommends this. Use a bag of ice or a cold compress to help reduce swelling for the first 48 hours after the injury.

This should begin as soon as possible after the injury and then every 3 to 4 hours for 20 to 30 minutes at a time until the swelling is gone.

Wrap the ice or ice pack in a towel. Don't put ice or ice packs directly on the skin because it can cause tissue damage. C ompress. Use elastic bandages or sports wraps to help support your leg and keep the swelling down if your doctor recommends doing so. Doctors recommend using elastic compression bandages instead of compression shorts because you can adjust the bandages as needed.

E levate. When you are sitting or lying down, keep your leg elevated. Rarely, surgery may be needed to repair a hamstring muscle or tendon. A hamstring injury typically causes a sudden, sharp pain in the back of your thigh. You might also feel a "popping" or tearing sensation. Swelling and tenderness usually develop within a few hours. You may also experience bruising or discoloration along the back of your leg, as well as muscle weakness or an inability to put weight on your injured leg.

Mild hamstring strains can be treated at home. But you should see a doctor if you can't bear any weight on your injured leg or if you can't walk more than four steps without significant pain.

The hamstring muscles are a group of three muscles that run along the back of your thigh from your hip to just below your knee. These muscles make it possible to extend your leg straight behind your body and to bend your knee. When any one of these muscles stretches beyond its limit during physical activity, injury can result. Returning to strenuous activities before your hamstring muscles are completely healed might cause an injury recurrence.

As part of an overall physical conditioning program, regular stretching and strengthening exercises can help minimize your risk of hamstring injury. Try to be in shape to play your sport; don't play your sport to get in shape. Hamstring muscle injuries are the most common sports injury. These injuries often have long recovery times and can recur.

Stretches and strengthening exercises can help prevent injuries. Soft tissues called tendons connect these muscles to the bones of the pelvis , knee , and lower leg. The biceps femoris is a long muscle. It begins in the thigh area and extends to the head of the fibula bone near the knee. The semimembranosus is a long muscle at the back of the thigh that begins at the pelvis and extends to the back of the tibia shin bone.

The semitendinosus muscle is located between the semimembranosus and biceps femoris at the back of your thigh. It begins at the pelvis and extends to the tibia. The semitendinosus muscle mainly consists of fast-twitch muscle fibers that contract rapidly for short periods.

The hamstring muscles cross the hip and knee joints, except for the short head of the biceps femoris. That crosses only the knee joint. Strains range from minimal to severe. Contusions occur when an external force hits the hamstring muscle, as in contact sports. Contusions are characterized by:. Hamstring muscle injuries are common and range from mild to severe damage. The onset is often sudden.

You can treat mild strains at home with rest and over-the-counter pain medication. If you have continuing hamstring pain or injury symptoms, see your doctor for a diagnosis and treatment.