Hamstring Strain / Partial Tear

What Is It

The hamstrings are three muscles that extend the hip and flex the knee, and they experience the greatest strain during sprinting — particularly in the phase when the leg is extended forward just before ground contact. A strain occurs when the muscle or musculotendinous junction fibres are stretched beyond their elastic limit, ranging from mild overstretch to a complete tear.

Signs & Symptoms

• Sudden, sharp pain in the back of the thigh during sprinting, often described as a "pull" or "pop"
• Immediate inability to continue running at full speed
• Tenderness on palpation and, in more severe grades, visible bruising over the following days
• Pain during active knee flexion against resistance
• In complete rupture, a palpable defect in the muscle may be present

Cause & Mechanism

Most commonly occurs during maximal-speed sprinting or sudden acceleration from a standing start — a frequent mechanism in football and basketball — as well as excessive stretch during a kicking motion. Risk factors include a previous hamstring injury, strength imbalance relative to the quadriceps, inadequate warm-up, and a sudden spike in training intensity.

Diagnosis

Clinical examination assesses location, pain on contraction and range of motion. Ultrasound is the method of choice for rapid grading in clinic, while MRI provides a more precise picture when a severe injury or involvement of the tendon attachment is suspected — a finding that directly affects time away from sport.

Treatment With Us

Treatment is predominantly conservative: swelling control in the first 48–72 hours, followed by a progressive stretching and strengthening programme incorporating eccentric exercises (e.g. Nordic hamstring curls) as soon as pain allows. Complete tendon rupture with significant muscle retraction may require surgical repair. IV support for hydration and recovery is used in the early phase for elite athletes working within a short window before the next competition.