A hamstring strain is a common injury involving a tear in one or more of the hamstring muscles. Read about the symptoms, treatment, exercises and sports massage to help get you back on your feet in the shortest possible time.
A strained or pulled hamstring as it is sometimes called is a tear in one or more of the hamstring muscles. Strictly speaking there are three hamstring muscles, the Semitendinosus, Semimembranosus and Biceps Femoris.
The role of these muscles is to bend and flex the knee and to move the thigh backwards at the hip (extend the hip). Understanding how it works gives vital clues to the level of injury. Mild to severe strains are extremely common in sprinters and hurdle jumpers and in all sports that involve sprinting activities, such as football and rugby.