The human body has three muscles along the back of the thigh between the hip and the knee. Together, these three muscles make up what is known as the hamstring. The hamstring is a vital component in your ability to walk, jump, and run. It even helps to control some of the movement of your torso. It is no wonder then that a hamstring injury can bring down even the toughest of people.
But how do hamstring injuries occur? What is the treatment for hamstring injuries? And how can rehabilitation and strengthening exercises help to ensure you don’t suffer a repeat injury? Read on to learn everything you need to know about hamstring injuries and rehabilitation.
3 Ways a Hamstring Injury Can Occur
There are three primary ways a hamstring injury can occur:
- Gradually – Due to posture issues, hamstring problems can slowly develop and become chronic. Because the hamstring attaches the hip to the knee, hip aliment plays a key role in the proper functioning of the hamstring.
- Repetitive Strains – This is a common injury for runners because daily running places a repetitive strain on the muscles.
- Trauma – Sometimes a hamstring injury occurs suddenly due to some sort of trauma. It can be painful to have one of the muscle overextended. If a muscle tears, the pain will be exceptionally intense.
Finding Lasting Relief from Hamstring Injuries
In order to recover from a hamstring injury, more is needed than just rest (although that is important as well so you don’t reinjure yourself while healing). Here are two things that should be a part of your recovery process:
- Hip Alignment – If you are suffering from asymmetrical hips, this will slow recovery and lead to repeat injuries. Correcting the misalignment is a vital part of ensuring long-term relief. Chiropractic can thus play an important role in your recovery.
- Soft Tissue Release – The muscle fibers need to be strengthened and to regain flexibility following an injury. Soft tissue release is an advanced sports massage technique that can help rehabilitate the hamstring and get it ready for future use.
Hamstring Strengthening and Rehabilitation
If you have suffered a hamstring injury, come and see Dr. Ward at Ward Chiropractic and Rehabilitation. We offer the chiropractic treatments to correct asymmetrical hips as well as the soft tissue release needed to strengthen the hamstring muscles. Our goal is not only to have you feeling better as soon as possible but to help keep you on your feet with a decreased likelihood of repeat injury. To learn more, call us today at (703) 672-1661 or fill out our online contact form.
