Injuries to the hamstring muscle group, located in the back of your thigh, are common in both pro athletes and weekend warriors in a variety of sports. Approximately 180 hamstring injuries occur each season between the 30 teams in the American National Football League (NFL), and in England they account for 12% of injuries in professional football. The average length of time to recover from these injuries was 13.2 days, and men are 64% more likely to strain their hamstring then woman.
To make things more complicated, there are two different types of hamstring injuries, and each individuals recovery will be different. To learn more about the different injury types, why they happen and how you recover from them, read on!!
Type 1 and Type 2 Hamstring Injuries
Not all hamstring injuries are created equally! The most common hamstring injury is type 1, which occurs in high speed running, typically when the athlete has their leg stretched out in front of them, which puts extra strain on the hamstring while it is in its most stretched out position. Type 1 injuries typically involve the biceps femoris muscle (which is one of the hamstring muscles). Type 2 injuries occur during activities that involve high kicking, slide tackling and completing the forwards splits, and typically affect the semimembranosus hamstring muscle. Type 1 injuries are normally more uncomfortable initially, but tend to need less rehabilitation then type 2 injuries.
How to Recover From a Hamstring Injury
The most important thing when recovering from a hamstring injury is to consult with a physiotherapist or athletic therapist who is experienced in dealing with such injuries. This is to help you return to your sporting activity as soon as possible, and prevent the injury from reoccurring, as reinjury can happen if the appropriate rehabilitation hasn’t occurred.
Physiotherapists and athletic therapists will assess your injury, and help provide you with a graded return to sport plan. A combination of hands-on therapy (such as manual therapy and IMS) and hamstring specific exercises are required to heal hamstring strains and help get you back to full function.
Have you had a hamstring injury and need to get back to playing your sport? Check out our online booking page by clicking here to book in with one of our therapists today, or call our clinic 250-493-1152 to learn more!!
