Hamstring Injury

Hamstring injuries can happen to nearly anyone, but those who carry a higher risk engage in such activities as dancing, running, football, soccer, basketball, rugby, jumping, and volleyball. A hamstring injury occurs after pulling your Semitendinosus, Semimembranosus, or biceps femoris hamstring muscles.

These group of muscles runs along the back of your thighs allowing the bending of your knees or legs. Hamstring injuries can either be minor, moderate or severe. These injuries are generally categorized into grade 1(minor strain), grade 2(partial ruptures) and grade 3(complete tear).

Causes of hamstring injuries

Hamstring sprains/strains can be caused by numerous factors. They include the following;

·      Abrupt decelerations, accelerations or movements.

·      Overstretching or poor stretching

·      Muscle Overload

·      Inadequate warming up

·      Walking

·      Running

·      Muscles imbalance

·      Weak muscles

·      Inappropriate footwear

·      Recurrent muscle injuries

·      Poor flexibility

·      Lack of fitness

·      Over-bending your leg

Symptoms of hamstring injury

Most sportspeople who suffer from hamstring injuries show common symptoms including;

·      Swellings and tenderness

·      Movement complications

·      Discoloration/bruising

·      Sharp pain

·      Deformity

·      Sitting discomfort

·      Sensitivity

Diagnosis of Hamstring injury

Hamstring injuries can be extremely painful and nerve-wracking for any athlete. Consider consulting your sports medicine doctor if you are showing signs of a hamstring injury. How are hamstring injuries detected? Your doctor can use various medical techniques to determine whether you have a hamstring strain/sprint or not. These techniques include;

1.     Physical examinations

An experienced professional sports medicine expert can diagnose a hamstring injury through an extensive physical examination. Your doctor will ask your several questions, check your thighs for weakness, tenderness/swellings, bruises or discoloration before making his/her recommendations.

2.     Imaging tests

Your doctor can opt to use an x-ray machine to diagnose whether you have a hamstring injury or not. Alternatively, he/she can effectively use a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technique to determine the damage extent on your hamstring muscles. Regardless of the diagnosis methods used, your doctor should suggest an appropriate hamstring injury treatment method to ease your pain and get you on the mend successfully.

Treatment

Hamstring injuries can be treated using various methods. Your orthopedic surgeon, family medicine physician or sports medicine doctor can treat your hamstring injury using the following techniques;

1.     Orthopedic surgery

Your orthopedic surgeon may opt to treat your hamstring injury through orthopedic surgery depending on how severe your condition is. An ideal orthopedic surgery should be implemented using the right procedures and rehabilitation programs in order to help you get back to what you enjoy doing within a short period of time.

2.     Therapy

Hamstring injuries can be treated through therapy. This technique is commonly used by massage or physical therapists. This hamstring injury treatment method is very effective. A successful therapy program should be aimed at improving your flexibility, muscle strengthening, and healing to facilitate a quick and safe return to your respective sports activity.

3.     Rest and ice

It is common for health experts to recommend athletes to take a break from all sports activities depending on his/her assessment or evaluation on your hamstring injury. Alternatively, your GP may just recommend you to apply ice to your hamstring muscles injury for a certain period of time as treatment.

4.     Anti-inflammatory medication

Hamstring injuries may be treated effectively using various anti-inflammatory and painkilling medications such as; paracetamol, ibuprofen tablets, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory gels or creams depending on your GP’s recommendations.

Remember to live life to its Fullest

Dr. Kevin Crawford

4110 22nd Place Lubbock, TX 79410

(806) 792-4329

Disclaimer:  This information is provided as an educational service only, and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice.  Anyone seeking specific medical advice or assistance should consult his or her doctor or orthopedic surgeon.

Different types of Orthopedic Surgeries

Due to our increased active lifestyles, orthopedic surgeries have become commonplace in sports medicine. This kind of surgery is usually performed by a certified, highly experienced, well-trained professional orthopedic surgeon. 

Orthopedic surgeries are aimed at tackling medical complications that may develop in the bones, muscles/tendons, ligaments and skeleton, among others after an injury. While engaging in sports can cause unmeasurable excitement for athletes, it can also result in minor, mild or severe sports injuries that may require an orthopedic surgery, whether aninvasive surgery or non-invasive orthopedic surgery.

Which are the most common orthopedic surgeries in sports medicine?

They are;

1.     Total Shoulder Replacement

Shoulder injuries are very common in sports activities such as rugby, wrestling, boxing, javelin, swimming and weight lifting. It is wise to seek medical assistance after suffering this kind of sports injury. Your doctor will inspect the extent of your shoulder damage before recommending a method of treatment from simple rehab to a full-on shoulder replacement orthopedic surgery. If surgery is required, an experienced orthopedic surgeon can effectively take you through the whole surgery procedure with minimal or without any complications. For a full shoulder replacement, a successful orthopedic surgery will ensure that all the damaged shoulder cartilages or bones are properly repaired or replaced with alternative metal/plastic implants to restore your shoulder joint movement.

2.     Total Joint Replacement

This is a common orthopedic surgery among athletes and non-athletes. It is not rare for those active in football, cycling, motorcycle/rally racing, rugby and running to develop severe joint damage due to overuse or injuries during an event or training. Arthritis is also known to lead to total joint replacement surgery. Patients needing this kind of orthopedic surgery have to ensure that they work with a reputable, vastly experienced, skilled and qualified orthopedic surgeon for their best treatment possible. An orthopedic surgeon will work tirelessly to replace severely damaged joints with plastic or metal parts that are shaped and designed to restore normal function or knee movement effectively.

3.     Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Reconstruction

Many professional football players, rugby, or basketball players, cyclists, runners, dancers and gymnastics enthusiasts have suffered anterior cruciate ligament injuries. In order to continue engaging in their professional sports careers, they seek medical assistance from reputable sports medicine experts. A severe ACL injury may certainly trigger an orthopedic surgeon to recommend ACL reconstruction surgery so as to restore an athlete’s knee movement. Experienced Orthopedic surgeons have the ability to reconstruct a severely ruptured ligament through surgery, even using your own or donated tissues successfully. While your knee may take some time to completely heal after undergoing this type of orthopedic surgery, the procedure can quickly improve your knee's movement, and relieve pain and discomfort efficiently.

4.     Spine Surgery

Although spine injuries are rare in major sports activities such as football, soccer, swimming, and boxing, this type of debilitating injury can be catastrophic for any athlete. Nevertheless, there have been unique cases whereby athletes participating in rugby, wrestling, skiing, snowboarding, and horse-riding have suffered spinal injuries. In such cases, an orthopedic surgeon may perform a spine surgery to boost the patient’s chances of moving again without experiencing excruciating pain. Most of those who suffer from severe spine damage may be advised against going back to active sports indefinitely or for a certain period of time.

Never underestimate the role orthopedic surgeons/surgeries play in Sports Medicine.

Remember to live life to its Fullest

Dr. Kevin Crawford

4110 22nd Place Lubbock, TX 79410

(806) 792-4329

Disclaimer:  This information is provided as an educational service only, and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice.  Anyone seeking specific medical advice or assistance should consult his or her doctor or orthopedic surgeon.