In human anatomy, the hamstring is any one of the three posterior thigh muscles (semitendinosus, semimembranosus and biceps femoris) that make up the borders of the space behind the knee, or to their corresponding tendons.
In quadrupeds, it is the single large tendon found behind the knee or comparable area.
Hamstring injuries are muscle strain injuries. Hamstring injuries typically are caused by rapid acceleration activities when running or initiating running activity. Hamstring injuries are common in sports such as soccer, football, and track. Injuries to the hamstring group of muscles can range from a minor strain to a major rupture.
Muscle strains are classified according to their severity:
2. A moderate or second-degree strain involves greater damage of muscle with some loss of strength and function. Usually second-degree strains result in bleeding within the muscle secondary due to rupture of intramuscular blood vessels.
3. A severe or third-degree strain is a tear in the muscle extending across the whole muscle belly, resulting in total loss of muscle strength and function.
Grade the first injuries tend to be mild in that they tend to heal fully with only minor aggravation to the injured, especially in the sedentary individual. On the other hand, in power athletes, hamstring injuries can be severe and debilitating. Many a promising or successful athletic career has been limited or ended by such injuries. Even common exercises, such as jumping rope, tennis, and elliptical machine walking can lead to injury of the hamstring muscles.
The good news is that most of the athletes I treat experience a first- or second-degree strain of the hamstrings. The not-so-good news, and research verifies this, is that athletes with a hamstring strain usually experience significant, from four to six weeks, recovery time and are more susceptible to recurrent hamstring injury for about six months to one year.
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