The top 4 culprits behind chronic hamstring pain

Chronic hamstring pain can occur for a number of reasons, but it’s most commonly experienced after the muscle is pulled, strained or torn. It can hurt pretty bad, making it difficult to walk, sit or stand up. Your hamstrings are one of the muscles that allow you to bend your knees and move your hips from side to side, so when you hurt one, any activity that involves those motions becomes painful.

Struggling with hamstring pain and wondering what the cause is? Read below to learn about some potential causes:

1. Running

When you run, your hamstrings are pulled tight. Pulling them too tight can result in cramps, charley horses and full-on injuries.

Stretching is one potential solution to this problem. Stretching loosens up your muscles, which gives them some slack that prevents overstretching.

2. Dancing

Hamstring injuries are a common injury among professional dancers. Dances that involve high kicks and excessive leg-stretching put the thigh muscles under pressure, potentially leading to chronic hamstring pain.

3. Kicking

Any other sport or activity that involves kicking — soccer, martial arts, skateboarding, etc. — can injure the hamstrings. Even bicycling, which involves repetitive downward “kicks,” can lead to overtightening.

Again, stretching can help here. When your muscles are loosened up and prepared for the stress you’re going to place on them, they’re less likely to give out.

4. Not giving yourself enough time to recover from an injury

Once your hamstring is injured, you must give yourself time to recover before returning to strenuous activity. Depending on the severity of your injury, you may need to step away from your preferred sport or activity for several weeks or even months to allow for full recovery. Throughout that time, you can work slowly to rebuild your hamstring muscles.

Failure to take some time off can lead to further injuries.

Here’s what you should do if you experience chronic hamstring pain

We’ve already discussed the importance of stretching and recovery time. You should also schedule an appointment with a physical therapist. At Back in Motion Physical Therapy, an expert will be able to diagnose the cause of your chronic hamstring pain and recommend a treatment plan.

Contact us today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment. 

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