Question 1

What is a hamstring injury?

Accepted Answer

A hamstring injury is a strain or tear of one or more of the three muscles at the back of your thigh (biceps femoris, semitendinosus, semimembranosus). These muscles straighten your hip and bend your knee. Injuries range from mild strains (Grade 1) where only a few muscle fibres tear, to complete ruptures (Grade 3) where the muscle or tendon completely tears away from bone. Most hamstring injuries occur during sprinting, when the muscle is stretched while contracting forcefully.

Question 2

How long does a hamstring injury take to heal?

Accepted Answer

Healing time depends on severity. Grade 1 (mild strain): 2-4 weeks return to sport. Grade 2 (moderate partial tear): 4-8 weeks. Grade 3 (severe or complete tear): 3-6 months, or 6-12 months if surgery required. However, these are minimums - rushing back increases re-injury risk dramatically. You should only return to sport when you're pain-free, have regained full strength (at least 90% of your uninjured leg), and can pass sport-specific tests. MRI findings help predict recovery time more accurately.

Question 3

Can I walk on a torn hamstring?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the severity. Grade 1 strains usually allow walking with mild discomfort. Grade 2 tears cause significant pain with walking, and you may limp or need crutches for a few days. Grade 3 complete tears often make walking very difficult or impossible initially, requiring crutches. You should walk as normally as possible within your pain limits - some movement helps healing. Use crutches if you're limping badly, as limping can cause problems in your back, hip, or other leg.

Question 4

Why do hamstring injuries keep coming back?

Accepted Answer

Hamstring re-injury is very common (12-30% re-injury rate) for several reasons: 1) Returning to sport too soon before muscle has fully healed and strengthened, 2) Incomplete rehabilitation - muscle may feel better but isn't strong enough, 3) Scar tissue in muscle reduces flexibility, 4) Not addressing risk factors like muscle imbalance or training errors, 5) Previous hamstring injury is the biggest risk factor for another one. The key to preventing re-injury is completing full rehabilitation including eccentric strengthening (Nordic hamstrings), only returning when you pass objective strength tests, and continuing prevention exercises long-term.

Question 5

Should I get an MRI scan?

Accepted Answer

Not everyone needs an MRI. It's most useful for: professional or elite athletes planning return to competition, suspected complete (Grade 3) tears where surgery might be considered, injuries not improving with treatment after 4-6 weeks, or planning PRP injection treatment. For mild-moderate strains in recreational athletes, clinical examination is usually adequate to guide treatment. Your doctor will advise if MRI would change your management. MRI can accurately predict return-to-sport timeframes and surgical need.

Medical Disclaimer

Hamstring Injuries

📖What is Hamstring Injuries?

🔬What Causes It?

⚠️Risk Factors

You may be at higher risk if:

🛡️Prevention