Hamstring Injuries

Hamstring strains are both common and painful. They strike elite athletes, and quite often at this time of year, participants of the aptly named Norfolk Island Central Schools “Hamstring Cup. The hamstring is a group of three muscles that run along the back of your thigh. They allow you to bend your leg at the knee. During a hamstring strain, one or more of these muscles gets overloaded. The muscles might even start to tear. You're likely to get a hamstring strain during activities that involve a lot of running and jumping or sudden stopping and starting. Getting a hamstring strain can be a painful experience, akin to being shoved in bag of the leg with a red hot poker..

What Does a Hamstring Strain Feel Like?

Hamstring strains range from mild to agonising pain, some symptoms of hamstring strain include,

• Sudden and severe pain during exercise, along with a snapping or popping feeling (think of large elastic band snapping)
• Pain in the back of the thigh and lower buttock when walking, straightening the leg, or bending over, tenderness or bruising.

What's the Treatment for a Hamstring Strain?

Moderate hamstring strains usually heal on their own. You just need to give them some time. These are things you can do at home to help healing:

Rest the leg. Avoid putting weight on the leg as best you can.

Ice your leg to reduce pain and swelling. 20 minutes every four hours for two to three days, or until the pain is gone.

Compress your leg. Use compression bandage to minimise swelling.

Elevate your leg on a pillow when you're sitting or lying down.\

If you suffer from prolonged pain or feel no relief from rest and icing an injury, consult a doctor, we have a wonderful physiotherapy team at NIHRACS.

When Will a Hamstring Strain Feel Better?

Whatever you do, don't rush things. If you start pushing yourself before the hamstring strain is healed, you could re-injure the hamstring and develop permanent muscle dysfunction. Recovery time depends on how badly you injured the hamstring. If you suffer from prolonged pain, or feel no relief from rest and icing an injury, consult a doctor. We also have a wonderful physiotherapist at NIHRACS

A reminder that the next skill drill will be held on Tuesday, 12 August, 18:00 at the St John Shed on Grassy Road.

If you are interested in becoming a St John volunteer or, for more information, please email: norfolk.island@stjohnnsw.com.au or james.garden@stjohnnsw.com.au