Hamstring Tendonitis
Identifying and Treating Hamstring Tendonitis
Hamstring tendonitis is no doubt a difficult condition to deal with. For athletes, especially runners, the condition can be devastating. In order to better understand how hamstring tendonitis occurs, we have to know a little more about the anatomy of the hamstring. What we refer to as the “hamstring” is actually a group of three muscles. These muscles run from the pelvis all the way down the back of the leg and around the sides of the knee to the shin. Tendons are tough tissues which attach the muscles to bone. Not only do the hamstring tendons make it possible to bend the knee, but they also work as a stabilizer for this sensitive joint.
What is hamstring tendonitis and how is it caused?
When the tendons have too much pressure or stress exerted onto them, one or more tears can form in the tendons. Hamstring tendonitis is a condition in which a hamstring tendon (or in some cases more than one) become inflamed as a reaction to tears the tendon has sustained. Inflammation results in swelling, pain and tenderness, excessive warmth to the area, and redness that can sometimes be detected visually on the skin. This usually occurs around the sides or just under the knee.
Tendonitis can be caused by several means, but most often it is due to the strain of physical activity. Running, especially cross-country where the ground is uneven, lifting strenuous amounts of weight, and sports such as football and tennis are common causes of hamstring tendonitis. The elderly may also experience tendonitis as a mere result of having brittle tendons.
The symptoms of tendonitis
The symptoms produced by tendonitis really depend upon how severely the tendon has been injured and how much inflammation occurs. Tendonitis almost always occurs around the knee. This results in pain and tenderness around and below the knee. The knee joint is likely to experience a certain degree of stiffness when it is used. Regular use of the knee may result in stiff movements and extending the leg in front of the body is likely to result in pain. Due to inflammation, the skin around the knee is likely to appear red and warm to the touch. The area may also swell up, which is also an effect of inflammation.
Treating hamstring tendonitis
While the symptoms may not be extremely hindering, they can quickly develop into a serious condition if the tendonitis is not treated quickly and properly. The most recommended form of treatment is natural healing. This includes elevating the leg and keeping pressure off of the knee. The recommended length of treatment is generally around four weeks, which means that all strenuous physical activity such as running, weight lifting, or playing sports should be avoided. One should even try to limit walking to an “as necessary” basis. To help with swelling and redness, one can apply an ice pack to the area. An ice pack can be made by placing ice in a zip-top bag. The bag can then be wrapped in a thin towel and placed on the knee. The ice pack should be applied for about 20 minutes a day at intervals of four to six hours. For optimum results, this should be done over the course of about three days.
If the pain is particularly difficult to handle, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) can be taken. Aspirin, naproxen (Aleve), and ibuprofen (Motrin) are widely available and cheap to purchase. After a few weeks of rest, the pain should be gone and one can start slowly stretching and testing the muscles. Stiffness is bound to occur in both the tendons and the muscles, however a very gentle stretching and strengthening routine should bring them back up to their former glory.