Pulled Hamstring Symptoms
Pulled Hamstring Symptoms - How You Can Treat Them, and What You Can Do to Prevent Them
If you are experiencing bruising behind the leg or swelling in the thigh, then these are just a few pulled hamstring symptoms. There is no doubt that exercise is good for you, but you have to be careful not to overdo it on the stretching. In addition, not stretching enough can be a culprit, and in the future there are some things you can do to prevent pulling your hamstring muscle.
Pulled hamstring symptoms are common in athletes of all sports as well as those who train for fitness and bodybuilding. Sudden accelerations or sharp movements can both attribute to pulling your muscles, so once you have pulled your hamstring how do you fix it?
The hamstring is not something easily in your reach, but you have to be persistent in treating it. Resting your hamstring is the first step toward healing it. Resting it will keep you from making it worse, and using ice packs will keep swelling down and draw blood to the muscle to heal and restore it. Ice pack treatments are very effective, but they must be done properly. Ice packs should be put on for periods of 15 to 20 minutes, then off for 15 to 20 minutes.
Compression with ice packs is very effective as well, so when doing this make sure that you have someone help you as this can be very hard to do by yourself. To get the proper compression on the hamstring, you will want use an athletic wrap or bandage, and wrap the leg from the knee to the hip. You might want to put a washcloth or a thin dishtowel in between the skin and ice pack in order to prevent frostbite. The wrap should be firmly in place, but don’t wrap it too tight because this could cause you to cut off the circulation that you need for healing properly.
If the level of pain you are experiencing is more than you can bear, than you will definitely want to call an orthopedic doctor. Depending on your medical history you can certainly use over the counter stuff like Tylenol, Advil or even Aleve. Just be careful that you are not taking something you shouldn’t if you are already on certain types of medications. If you take other medications on a regular basis and you need to take something for mild pain, then consult with your pharmacist to make sure there are no interactions.
In the case that your pulled hamstring symptoms are severe, then going to the hospital may be the best option. Everyone’s tolerance of pain is difference, and it is really hard to tell when you can’t see your own hamstring muscle. However, if you can’t walk and you can clearly identify where the pain is, then get it checked out. Sometimes, by the time the hamstring has been torn, you may be able to feel a gap between the hamstring muscle and upper portion of the leg just prior to the hip.
The best way to prevent a pulled hamstring in the beginning is through proper stretching. One of the best stretches you can do is by sitting on the floor and putting your legs straight in front of you. Then, slowly lean forward and try to grab your toes. If you aren’t able to grab them relax slowly into the stretch;. don’t overdo it. Remember, overdoing it will get you a pulled hamstring. You can also do a light jog before engaging in activity to begin to warm up the legs. This will be very helpful in getting the hamstrings to wake up before activity.
Pulling a hamstring isn’t a pleasant experience, so be sure to do plenty of stretching before a game, or before working out.