I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard this statement – “I just tweaked my hammy again, but it’ll be fine tomorrow.” Although a pulled hamstring is a very common injury and often will resolve quickly on its own, doesn’t mean we want to ignore it!
There are many factors which leave someone predisposed to a hamstring injury, such as:
One thing on that list sticks out to me – previous hamstring injury. Once you’ve had one “pulled hammy,” you’re increasing your risk for further strains. In my mind, this is even more reason to deal with all the underlying reasons that your hamstring is taking so much force that it is getting injured.
Contrary to popular belief, stretching your hamstrings is not the only prevention for hamstring injuries. While maintaining adequate muscle length and flexibility reduces the likelihood of a muscle strain, there are many other biomechanical factors that can be addressed by your physiotherapist to prevent hamstring injuries. For example:
As you can see, many things lead to predisposition to hamstring injuries. If you have had hamstring strains in the past, book in to see your physiotherapist who will use a combination of manual therapy, exercise prescription, modalities and possibly a running gait analysis in order to help you prevent future injures.
– Lesley Cuddington, Registered Physiotherapist