1. Least Effective Exercises Slideshow
2. Dehydration Slideshow
3. First Aid Care and Pain Relief for Minor Injuries

Medical Author:

Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Dr. Ben Wedro practices emergency medicine at Gundersen Clinic, a regional trauma center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. His background includes undergraduate and medical studies at the University of Alberta, a Family Practice internship at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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A pulled hamstring is a common term that refers to a strain of one or more of the hamstring muscles. Muscle fibers of the hamstring can become strained or torn during running, kicking, or even walking down steps. When a hamstring muscle is pulled, the muscle fibers are abruptly stretched. Depending on the severity of the strain injury, the muscle can actually tear and many people can hear and feel an audible "pop" when the muscle is damaged.

The hamstring pull may occur anywhere along the muscle tendon anatomy, however it most commonly occurs in the middle of the hamstring muscle.

As people age, the tendon can be injured where it inserts into the ischial tuberosity in the pelvis and cause groin or hip symptoms. On occasion, the tendon injury can avulse or pull a small part of bone away from that insertion point.

Avulsion injuries often occur with a quick muscle contraction when a burst of speed is needed. This occurs in activities like ice skating, weightlifting, or skiing. Otherwise, it is the muscle body that tends to be injured in a noncontact activity.

There are a variety of potential risk factors for hamstring injuries.

• Inadequate warming up and poor stretching
• Muscle weakness or an imbalance in the muscle strength within the hamstring muscles
• Muscle weakness or an imbalance between the hamstrings and quadriceps
• Poor footwear
• Recurrent injury when the muscle hasn't completely healed from previous damage

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