Hamstring Injuries: Hamstring Injury Symptoms and Treatment
(continued)

What types of hamstring injuries are there?

Hamstring strains are of three types;

1. A mild or (grade I) strain, which is a slightly pulled muscle without tearing of muscle or tendon fibers. There is no loss of strength.
2. A moderate or (grade II) strain, which is a tearing of fibers in a muscle or tendon or at the attachment to the bone. Strength is diminished.
3. A severe or (grade III strain), which is a rupture of the muscle tendon-bone attachment, with separation of fibers. A severe strain may require surgical repair. Chronic strains are caused by overuse. Acute strains are caused by direct injury or over-stress.

What muscles are involved in a hamstring injury?

The specific body parts involved are the tendons and muscles of the hamstring area, including bones in the pelvis and knee joints. There are also soft tissues surrounding the strain, including nerves, periosteum (covering of bone), blood vessels and lymph vessels.

How do I know if I've injured my hamstring?

The signs and symptoms of a hamstring strain are: (1) pain when moving or stretching of the leg, (2) muscle spasms of the injured muscles, (3) swelling over the injury, (4) Weakened leg (moderate or severe strain), and (5) Crepitation ("crackling" feeling and sound when the injured area is pressed with fingers). Calcification of the hamstring muscle or tendon (visible with x-ray) and (6) Inflammation of the sheath covering the hamstring tendon. These injuries are generally caused by prolonged overuse of muscle tendon units in the leg or a single violent injury or force applied to the muscle-tendon units in the leg.

Continued