Torn Hamstring
How Serious Is A Torn Hamstring?
Just the thought of a torn hamstring can make one shudder, especially if that person is a professional athlete for whom this type of injury could conceivably finish a career. The torn hamstring is in truth one of the more common injuries an athlete experiences, and it is the severity of the tear which may determine the ability of the athlete to return to a 100% performance level in the immediate future.
Even Strains Are Tears - Most often we hear about strained hamstrings or pulled hamstrings, which do not sound as severe as a torn hamstring. The terms strained hamstring and pulled hamstring are essentially interchangeable, but whatever you call it, the hamstring is still torn. In a mild case of a strained or pulled hamstring, the tears are microscopic. This is called a Grade 1 injury, and there is very little damage actually done to the muscles or tendons. While treatment and rest are advisable, an athlete suffering a Grade 1 hamstring injury can often return to normal activity in a matter of days. A Grade 2 injury involves a larger tear and full recovery may take several weeks, with the initial treatment consisting of rest and alternating applications of heat and ice, followed by a period of flexing and strengthening the hamstring muscle to enable it to return to full strength.
The Most Severe Case - It is the Grade 3 hamstring injury which we usually call a torn hamstring, as a complete tear of a muscle or tendon is experienced, and in the most severe cases, the tendon may even be torn away from the pelvic bone. While such a severely torn hamstring can often be treated by initially resting the muscle, including walking with crutches for a period, followed by a regimen of rehabilitating exercises, surgery can sometimes be required. While the need for a surgical procedure is somewhat rare, it usually is necessary if the tendon itself is torn, or if the tear in the musculotendinous complex is particularly severe, the musculotendinous complex being the rather large area where muscles and tendons join. This is actually the area where most hamstring injuries occur.
Usually when a hamstring injury occurs, the body immediately goes about trying to repair the damage, and heal the injured muscle or tendon. A flow on enzymes to the affected area will usually result in any swelling which may be experienced and quite naturally there is going to be pain, usually commensurate with the degree of the injury. In the case of a severely torn hamstring it may be very difficult, if not impossible, to put any weight on the affected leg, and it may not be possible to contract the hamstring muscle.
If Surgery Is Needed - When surgery is required, it will either involve sewing together a muscle which has been pulled apart, or reattaching the tendon to the pelvic bone with sutures or staples. The doctor will then determine the course of action for post surgical treatment, but the use of crutches is very much apt to play a role initially. At first, the leg will have to be rested for a period of time, after which a program of stretching and exercising the muscle will begin. This will be very gentle at first, primarily gently stretching the muscle and exercising with very small motions or light weights. As the muscle heals, the exercise program can gradually become more strenuous. Exercise is important, as scar tissue will form where the healing is taking place, and exercise helps keep the muscle flexible.
The Outlook - The prognosis for a torn hamstring is usually favorable. For some, recovery is a mental issue as much as a physical issue, as there is often a fear of re injuring the hamstring. This can happen of course, as it can with many types of muscle injuries. Once the hamstring has healed though, it should be as strong as it ever was. Chronic hamstring tears are uncommon, and when that is the case, inadequate preparation and warm up for an athletic event is often at least part of the reason.