With the 2017-2018 football season well underway, we're focusing today on one of the more common injuries seen within the sport - hamstring strain.
A hamstring injury is a pull or tear to the tendons or large muscles at the back of the thigh. Strains are caused by rapid extensive contraction, or an extreme stretch of the hamstring muscle group - which causes high mechanical stress. It's an injury seen frequently in athletes and it can occur in different severities. The length of time it takes to recover can depend on how severe the injury is.
The hamstrings are tendons (bands of tissue) at the back of the thighs that attach the thigh muscle to the bone. The term 'hamstring' also refers to the group of three muscles that run along the back of your thigh, from your hip to just below your knee. The hamstring muscles are very active during activities that involve bending the knee, such as running, jumping and climbing. Hamstring strains often heal on their own. To speed up the process, you can:
Rest the leg Use Ice Elevate your leg Practice stretching and strengthening exercises, if your therapist recommends it
When you use Kinesio tape for an injury of this type, it is applied to the hamstring muscles in a stretched position so the athlete is flexed at the hip. Tape is applied at the origin of the muscle with no tension. This provides a base to provide slight tension in the lower part of the tape as it is applied. It is important to know where the hamstring muscles are located so the tape follows the length of the muscle. Once the tape is applied the adhesive must be activated by rubbing it. A trained Kinesio practitioner can discuss your condition, provide advice and apply the tape for you.
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