Pathophysiology

The Hamstring group is made up of 3 muscles which attach from behind the knee to a bony prominence in the buttock and thigh bone. The Hamstrings work to control bending of the knee and taking your hip back behind you. Typically an overuse injury and commonly seen in runners, kicking or jumping sports. The Hamstrings are prone to this type of injury as they control the slowing down of a straight knee during activities such as sprinting and hill climbing.

Symptoms

• Pain deep in the buttock or posterior thigh, can radiate to knee

• Pain increases with repetitive activity e.g. long distance running

• Pain with prolonged sitting or driving

• Pain with increased speed or sprinting

• Pain when bending at the hip e.g. putting on shoes or bending to pick something up from the floor

Management

• Activity modification and offloading

• Ice or heat

• Pain relief

• Physiotherapy including range of movement exercises and a graded strengthening programme

Investigations

Not generally indicated