Hamstring Strain & Tear

Specialized Care for Hamstring Injuries to Help You Recover Faster

Hamstring injuries are among the most common muscle injuries affecting athletes and active adults. From mild strains to complete tendon tears, these injuries can limit strength, reduce mobility, and make returning to sports or physical activity challenging without proper treatment.

Hamstring injuries occur when one or more of the muscles or tendons along the back of the thigh become overstretched or torn. They are among the most common injuries affecting athletes, active adults, and individuals whose jobs require sudden movements or heavy physical activity.

At Orthopaedic Specialists of Austin, our fellowship-trained sports medicine specialist diagnoses and treats the full spectrum of hamstring injuries from mild muscle strains to complete tendon tears. We develop individualized treatment plans that focus on relieving pain, restoring strength, and helping patients safely return to work, sports, and everyday activities.

Whether your injury happened during competition, exercise, or an unexpected fall, early evaluation can help determine the severity of the injury and guide the most effective recovery plan.

Pain in the back of the thigh may indicate anything from a mild muscle strain to a significant tendon tear. If your symptoms are severe or not improving, it's important to be evaluated by a sports medicine specialist.

Common signs and symptoms include:

• Sudden pain in the back of the thigh

• A popping or tearing sensation during activity

• Swelling or tenderness

• Bruising that develops along the thigh

• Weakness when bending the knee or extending the hip

• Difficulty walking, running, or climbing stairs

• Pain with stretching the hamstring

• Reduced flexibility or loss of athletic performance
  
  

A timely evaluation helps determine whether you've experienced a muscle strain, partial tendon tear, or complete hamstring tendon rupture.

The hamstring muscles work together to bend the knee, extend the hip, and generate power during walking, running, and jumping. These injuries often occur when the muscles are overloaded during rapid or forceful movements.

Common causes include:

• Sprinting or sudden acceleration

• Quick changes in direction

• Jumping and explosive movements

• Slipping or falling

• Muscle fatigue

• Limited flexibility

• Muscle imbalance

• Previous hamstring injury

• Overuse from repetitive athletic activity
  
  

Our specialists evaluate both the injury itself and the factors that may have contributed to it, helping reduce the risk of future hamstring injuries.

• Temporary activity modification

• Structured physical therapy

• Progressive strengthening and flexibility exercises

• Ice and compression during the early stages of healing

• Anti-inflammatory medications when appropriate

• Functional rehabilitation designed for a safe return to activity
  
  

Many hamstring strains and partial tears heal successfully without surgery when treated early and followed by an appropriate rehabilitation program.

• Repair of complete hamstring tendon tears

• Repair of proximal hamstring avulsions

• Tendon reconstruction in select cases

• Surgical treatment for chronic injuries that have not responded to conservative care
  
  

When surgery is recommended, our specialists utilize advanced, minimally-invasive repair techniques focused on restoring tendon function while supporting long-term recovery.