Tired of the pain in your behind? Here are treatments to help with chronic and acute hamstring muscle strains!
Hamstring Injury History
Hamstring muscle strains are one of the most common injuries in athletes and a pain in the behind! Typically, they are caused from an explosive movement such as taking off in a sprint, jumping, or kicking. The strain can be mild to moderate, which can be treated with ice, elevation, compression, and rest. Usually with those injuries the athlete can return to their sport fairly quick. However, there are instances in which there can be a complete tear in the muscle which can deteriorate muscle function and prol ong recovery.
Acute Hamstring Strains vs. Chronic Hamstring Strains
In this research, there are two types of strains that are observed for treatment: acute and chronic. Acute hamstring muscle strains are very common and can occur from dynamic movement or excessive stretch in the muscle. Acute strains symptoms include pain, weakness, swelling, and loss of range of motion and during the onset of the injury, a “pop” sound and feeling may occur. Returning to activity is difficult after injury just occurred. The chronic hamstring strain observed in this research is chronic proximal tendinopathy, which is an uncommon injury. Chronic proximal tendinopathy is caused by overload and overstretch that has been recurrent over an extended period of time (months or years). Pain that increases overtime, weakness, and loss of function are symptoms of chronic proximal tendinopathy. Usually the patient is not aware of the cause of injury.
Types of Treatments Observed for Hamstring Strains
· Eccentric muscle training
· Massage therapy
· Corticosteroid injections
· Plasma-rich platelet treatment for chronic and acute hamstring muscle strains
· Static stretching and isolated progressive hamstring resistance
· Progressive agility and trunk stabilization exercises
· Shockwave therapy
· Trigger point dry needling
· Surgery
· Hamstring emphasized neuromuscular training
Most Effective Treatments for Acute Hamstring Muscle Strains
· After researching each of the treatments listed above, the top three treatments for acute hamstring muscle strains are progressive agility and trunk stabilizing exercises, corticosteroid injections, and eccentric training with massage therapy.
§ Progressive agility and trunk stabilizing treatment was found to inhibit faster recovery for acute hamstring muscle strains.
§ Corticosteroid injections were given to NFL athletes that suffered from acute hamstring muscle strains. The treatment lasted for three back-to-back football seasons and after the treatment period was over all of the athletes were able to return to play.
§ Eccentric training with massage was found to be the most effective treatment. The group that received both eccentric training and massage therapy on their acute hamstring strains showed improvement in strength and range of motion along with less reinjury rates.
Most Effective Treatments for Chronic Proximal Tendinopathy
· After reviewing treatments for chronic proximal tendinopathy of the hamstrings, the treatments that appeared to be the most effective are hamstring-emphasized neuromuscular training, platelet-rich plasma treatment, and shockwave therapy.
§ Neuromuscular training involved eccentric strengthening exercises, plyometrics, and either free or resisted hamstring exercises. NFL athletes with chronic proximal hamstring tendinopathy were divided into two groups with one that performed regular football training and another group that performed football training with the neuromuscular training. The group that received the neuromuscular training showed improvement in hamstring strength and were able to sprint 5 meters more than the other group.
§ Patients received one injection of platelet-rich plasma in their hamstrings in order to decrease pain. There was a total of 18 patients and after 6-months 10 of them reported with less pain and improved in functional ability by 63%.
§ Forty professional athletes with chronic proximal tendinopathy received shockwave therapy of 2500 impulses a session. After 3-months of treatment, results showed that 17 out of 20 patients that received shockwave therapy showed decrease in pain by 50%.
Practical Applications
Whether one has experienced a hamstring muscle strain or not, it is beneficial to know techniques and exercises to recover from an injury or to prevent an injury from occurring. Athletes, clinicians, coaches, and even parents could all benefit from knowing what can cause a hamstring muscle strain and ways to treat it or prevent it. Patients, clinicians, or parents can consider which treatment could be best with proper research and knowledge.
The video above is very informative and provides great examples of eccentric hamstring training and core stabilization exercises.
Background:
My name is Megan Wilmot and I am a senior at Westfield State University. I am studying sports medicine to become a physical therapist. I chose the topic of treatments for hamstring strains because it is a common injury in athletes, and I was curious which treatments could ensure a proper recovery in order to be prepared in the future as a clinician.
References
1. Cacchio, A.; Rompe, J.D.; Furia, J.P.; Susi, P.; Santilli, V.; De Paulis, F. (2011). Shockwave therapy for the treatment of chronic proximal hamstring tendinopathy in professional athletes. The American Journal sports medicine. 39(1), 146-53.
2. Drakos, M.; Birmingham, P.; Delos, D.; Barnes, R.; Murphy, C.; Weiss, L.; Warren, R. (2014). Corticosteroid and anesthetic injections for muscle strains and ligament sprains in the NFL. HSS Journal. 10(20, 136-142.
3. Fader, R.R.; Mitchell, J.J.; Nichols, R.; Roper, M.; Mei, D.O.; McCarty, E.C. (2015). Platelet-rich plasma treatment improves outcomes for chronic proximal hamstring injuries in an athletic population. Muscle, ligaments, and tendons journal. 4(4); 461-6.
4. Forman, J.; Geertsen, L.; Rogers, M.E. (2013-2014). Effect of deep stripping massage alone or with eccentric resistance on hamstring length and strength. Journal of bodywork and movement therapies.18(1), 139-44.
5. Mendiguchia, J.; Martinez-Ruiz, E.; Morin, J.B.; Samozino, P.; Edouard, P.; Alcaraz, P.E.; Esparza-Ross, F.; Mendez-Villanueva, A. (2015). Effects of hamstring-emphasized neuromuscular training on strength and sprinting mechanics in football players. Scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports. 25(6), e621-9.
6. Sherry, M.A.; & Best, T.M. (2004). A comparison of two rehabilitation programs in treatment of acute hamstring strains. Journal of orthopedic and sports physical therapy. 34(3), 116-25.
Comments
Post a Comment