Why does my hamstring pop

These muscles make it possible to extend your leg straight behind your body and to bend your knee. When any one of these muscles stretches beyond its limit during physical activity, injury can result. Returning to strenuous activities before your hamstring muscles are completely healed might cause an injury recurrence. As part of an overall physical conditioning program, regular stretching and strengthening exercises can help minimize your risk of hamstring injury.

Try to be in shape to play your sport; don't play your sport to get in shape. If you have a physically demanding occupation, regular conditioning can help prevent injuries. Ask your doctor about appropriate conditioning exercises. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. These kinds of injuries are also more common in teens who are going through growth spurts.

That's because the leg bones may grow faster than a person's muscles, pulling the muscles tight and leaving them more susceptible to getting stretched too far. Keeping your muscles in good shape is the best way to prevent hamstring injuries. Here are some ways to help protect yourself against them and other sports injuries!

The good news is that only the most severe muscle tears require surgery. Most hamstring strains will heal on their own or with some physical therapy. If you have a complete tear of one of your hamstring muscles or tendons, your doctor might want you to have surgery to reattach the tendon to the bone or fix the tendon.

Not overdoing things is key when it comes to this type of injury. Many people have a hamstring strain come back because they returned to play too quickly. So follow your doctor's advice and don't push yourself or feel pressure to get back into sports or other activities too soon.

Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is a Hamstring Strain? What Are the Symptoms of a Hamstring Strain? Other symptoms of a hamstring strain include: pain in the back of your thigh when you bend or straighten your leg tenderness, swelling, and bruising in the back of the thigh weakness in your leg that lasts for a long time after the injury Page 1 How Is a Hamstring Strain Diagnosed?

The examination will help figure out what grade of strain you have: Grade 1; this is a mild strain. You may experience some pain when you use your leg, but it will be minor and there will be minimal swelling.

Grade 2; this is a partial tear of one or more of the hamstring muscles. This may cause you to limp when you walk and feel some pain during activity. You might see some swelling and bruising, and you might not be able to straighten your leg all the way. A minor muscle pull or strain grade 1 may take a few days to heal, whereas it could take weeks or months to recover from a muscle tear grade 2 or 3. The hamstrings are tendons strong bands of tissue at the back of the thighs that attach the large thigh muscle to the bone.

The term "hamstring" also refers to the group of 3 muscles that run along the back of your thigh, from your hip to just below your knee. The hamstring muscles are not used much while standing or walking, but they're very active during activities that involve bending the knee, such as running, jumping and climbing.

A hamstring injury can occur if any of the tendons or muscles are stretched beyond their limit. They often occur during sudden, explosive movements, such as sprinting, lunging or jumping. But they can also occur more gradually, or during slower movements that overstretch your hamstring.

Recurring injury is common in athletes and sportsmen, as you're more likely to injure your hamstring if you've injured it before. Regularly doing stretching and strengthening exercises , and warming up before exercise , may help reduce the risk of injuring your hamstring. Mild hamstring strains grade 1 will usually cause sudden pain and tenderness at the back of your thigh. It may be painful to move your leg, but the strength of the muscle should not be affected. Partial hamstring tears grade 2 are usually more painful and tender.

There may also be some swelling and bruising at the back of your thigh and you may have lost some strength in your leg. This includes your wrists, knees, and ankles. Here's how to recognize and treat it.

Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Timothy Gossett, M. Causes What it feels like Tear grades Tear vs. These muscles include the: semitendinosus semimembranosus biceps femoris These muscles, which are in the back of your thigh, help bend your knees during activities like jumping and running.

Torn hamstring causes. Torn hamstring symptoms. Hamstring tear grades. Hamstring tear vs. Diagnosing a hamstring tear. Torn hamstring treatment. Torn hamstring recovery and outlook. Read this next. Medically reviewed by William Morrison, M. Is It a Sprain or a Strain?