Symptom Relief
- Rest. Stop any physical activity that causes pain.
- Ice. Put ice on your hamstring for about 20 minutes, 2 to 3 times a day.
- Compression. A compression bandage or wrap can reduce swelling and ease pain.
- Elevation. When sitting, keep your leg raised slightly to reduce swelling.
Should I exercise with a pulled hamstring?
Returning to strenuous exercise too quickly could make your injury worse, but avoiding exercise for too long can cause your hamstring muscles to shrink and scar tissue to form around the tear. To avoid this, you should start doing gentle hamstring stretches after a few days, when the pain has started to subside.
How long does pulling a hamstring take to heal?
Mild to moderate (grade 1 or 2) tears or strains can heal within three to eight weeks with diligent home therapy. For a grade 3 hamstring tear or strain, recovery may be as long as three months. Returning to sports before the injury is fully healed can cause more severe injuries.
How do you heal a pulled hamstring in 2 days?
To speed the healing, you can:
- Rest the leg.
- Ice your leg to reduce pain and swelling.
- Compress your leg.
- Elevate your leg on a pillow when you’re sitting or lying down.
- Take anti-inflammatory painkillers.
- Practice stretching and strengthening exercises if your doctor/physical therapist recommends them.
How do you heal a pulled hamstring fast? – Related Questions
How do you tell if hamstring is pulled or torn?
You might feel:
- sudden, sharp pain.
- a “popping” sensation at the time of injury.
- tenderness.
- swelling within the first few hours.
- bruising within the first few days.
- partial or complete weakness in your leg.
- inability to place weight on your leg.
Can you still walk with a pulled hamstring?
To treat a hamstring strain, follow these tips: Use the RICE formula as soon as possible after the injury: Rest. Limit the amount of walking you do, and try to avoid putting weight on your leg if your doctor recommends this.
Is a hot bath good for pulled hamstring?
Pulled hamstring recovery – What not to do
The first is heat. Stay away from hot baths or saunas. The second is alcohol. Alcohol will almost certainly increase the bleeding and swelling and slow down your recovery.
What does a grade 1 hamstring strain feel like?
Grade 1 Strain- Mild, only a few fibers have been injured. Walking will likely be unaffected, you may feel minimal symptoms with sprinting. Grade 2 Strain- Moderate, a partial muscle tear up to half of the muscle. You may experience a limp with walking, and running may not be an option due to weakness and pain.
Is heat good for a pulled hamstring?
Is heat or ice better for a hamstring pull or tear? In the initial stages of the injury, ice helps minimize the inflammatory response and reduce swelling. Once the acute injury phase is over, heat is recommended to loosen the muscle and ease pain and stiffness.
Should you rub a sore hamstring?
Yes. Once the acute phase of healing is over, sports massage can be of great benefit. It can: Flush out excess fluids and swelling from the tissue.
Should I massage a sore hamstring?
If you have persistent hamstring tightness, pain, and discomfort “shin splints”, “runner’s knee” or an acute hamstring strain, you may need a gentle, early intervention physiotherapy massage session to help reduce the pain and speed up the recovery process.
What’s the best home remedy for a pulled hamstring?
Apply ice packs several times a day to relieve pain and reduce swelling. Wrap the injured area with a compression bandage or wear compression shorts to minimize swelling. Rest with your leg elevated above the level of your heart, if possible, to improve drainage and minimize swelling.
What happens if a hamstring strain goes untreated?
If left untreated, hamstring strains are more likely to recur. This may put you at risk for developing an unstable or arthritic knee following repeated injuries. Untreated hamstring injuries may also lead to long-term inflammation in the tendon attachments to the pelvis and lower leg bones.
Should I see a doctor for a pulled hamstring?
When to see a doctor. Mild hamstring strains can be treated at home. But see a health care provider if you can’t bear weight on the injured leg or if you can’t walk more than four steps without a lot of pain.
Can a torn hamstring fix itself?
Physical therapy and rehabilitation — although most hamstring tears will heal on their own, they need special exercises and therapy to return to full function.
Should you stretch a pulled muscle?
Don’t stretch!
While it may seem counterintuitive, stretching a strained muscle only makes it worse. Your best bet involves avoiding any movement that agitates the affected area and continue to rest until the pain subsides.