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Home > Performance Place Sports Care Podcast > Update on High Hamstring Tendonopathy Video - Sports Injuries | Chiropractic Sports Medicine |Strength and Conditioning
Podcast: Performance Place Sports Care Podcast
Episode:

Update on High Hamstring Tendonopathy Video - Sports Injuries | Chiropractic Sports Medicine |Strength and Conditioning
Category: Health
Duration: 00:17:55
Publish Date: 2015-12-14 10:00:00
Description:

A pulled hamstring or strain can last months if not treated properly.  Many times scar tissue will deposit in the area of damaged tissue resulting in:

Reduced flexibility or elasticity of the muscle, leading to… Reduced range of motion of that area in the body, leading to… Increase in internal pressure in the tissue, leading to… Reduced circulation of blood and nutrients, leading to… Reduced muscle and nerve function

 

How does a pulled hamstring occur?

Typically a pulled hamstring occurs as an athlete over-strides or eccentrically loads the muscle.  Eccentric loading of a muscle occurs as a muscle lengthens yet a contraction occurs to slow and control the contraction.  When there are two opposing forces on the hamstring some times a pulled hamstring will occur as a small tear in the fibers of the muscle.

What to do if you have a pulled hamstring?

Well the first thing to do is to practice the PRICE method and do so over the next week.  After that, depending on the severity of the injury, you can begin specific rehab for the pulled hamstring.

Here the steps I would take (many times this approach can resolve conditions within weeks to a month or so):

  1. Active Release® and other types of soft tissue therapy is a good place to start, addressing the damaged tissues.
  2. Eccentric loading of the muscle to strengthen damaged fiber (there is a bit of research on the topic)
  3. Slowing increase training volume and intensity as desired by the coach

In some cases, you will never feel 100% but I can tell you with most certainty if you do not rehab it, remove scar tissue and strengthen it, you will be in far worse shape that you would if you do.  You can always feel better than you do now… you just have to work at it a little.

If you are looking for a provider with good experience on treating a pulled hamstring in your area but don’t know where to start feel free to contact me and I’ll help point you in the right direction.

Enjoy!
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