How To Heal & Treat Hamstring Soreness?



The hamstring is a group of tendons that are attached to the rear of the knee. In the event that the strength of your upper leg is unevenly balanced in some way, there is a good possibility that you will experience injuries of the hamstring. This is most probable when the front muscles of the thigh are stronger than the tendons at the rear. It is important to note that whilst these types of injuries are typically noticed in athletes, they are more damaging in children. In any case, they can be avoided and treated by home remedies if they are not too serious.

Adopt some of the following home treatments to treat this condition. They include:

  • To ensure further damage or injury, begin the treatment of your hamstring as soon as possible by resting it. The next step would be to apply an ice pack on it and keep it elevated. You must ensure that you seek medical expertise if the strain is very severe. It is a good idea to use a neoprene thigh sleeve if you have to perform any activities during the process of recovery. Also remember to stretch your leg completely, prior to any arduous activities, especially during the recovery period. Check with your doctor if you can consume mild pain killers, if required, to ease the pain and swelling caused by the inflammation.
  • It is important to rest the affected leg, as over-exercising is generally the main cause of injury to the hamstring. Attempting to treat the condition with exercise would only aggravate the condition. Tendon injuries tend to take between a day and two days to return back to normal; hence it is highly advisable to rest the injury as far as possible.
  • In order to loosen the injured tendons and keep them flexible, it recommended that you slowly stretch the affected leg. Not stretching the affected leg can lead to a complication as injured tendons tend to stiffen up easily. Stretching is important as it is helps in preventing injuries to your muscles and tendons, therefore try simple stretching exercises to prevent any future injuries.
  • Avoid running for a few days as that will give your hamstring sufficient time to heal, without causing any further aggravation. If you must exercise, ensure that it is done gradually unlike your normal routine. Exercising gradually will help you slowly revert back to your normal exercise routine without aggravating your injury.

answered by G M

If you have sprained your hamstring on account of too much exercise, then exercise in itself is not the answer to treat the sore muscle. Your legs would now need rest and as much rest as you can possibly get would be good for the sore muscle. Most of the time we do not realize that muscles are actually injured during exercises and it takes a good 24 to 48 hours for them to resume normalcy. In the event of a sprain or a pull during exercise place ice on the swelling and on the injury if visible. Take an ice pack and wrap it with a thick cloth or towel and place it to get relief from the pain. Apply it for around 20 minutes at a time and take it off giving yourself 20 minutes off the ice. Keep repeating it till you feel better.

Gradually try to stretch as slowly as possible. Stretching helps the muscle to loosen and become flexible. Sprained hamstrings are usually a result of a workout that has been intense or without prior preparation, which means that a good stretch before the actual exercise can go a long way in ensuring injury free workout. Hence stretching is imperative as a precautionary method and also a solution to strained muscles. Moreover stretching is also known to prevent soreness in the near future.

answered by K C


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