Addressing Hamstring Pain with Integrative Healthcare
Many patients will develop hamstring injuries as they increase their mileage while training for this year’s NYC marathon. Oftentimes the hamstring is not the only structure involved with this pain pattern. It is imperative as a musculoskeletal practitioner that you assess the tissue both above and below the hamstring.
It is a rare situation when one specific muscle, tendon, or ligament is working independently to move the human frame. Our musculoskeletal system consists of groups of soft tissues that work together to produce motion and function.What is a hamstring?
What is a Hamstring?
There are three hamstring muscles. semimembranosus, semitendinosus, and bicep femoris. Below the hamstrings, the soleus muscle attaches the hamstring to the lower leg which extends downward to the Achilles tendon ending in the plantar fascia of the underside of the foot. At the top of the hamstring, you have two structures connecting the hamstring to the spinal musculature. The sacrotuberous and dorsal sacral ligament extend the fibers of the hamstring upward ultimately attaching to the lumbar paraspinal musculature.
Self-treatment of the hamstring muscle
First, assess whether the muscle has become injured to the point that it needs to be shut down. If you cannot walk, or rise from a seated position without pain we suggest the following.
- Rest
- Ice
- Compression
- Elevation
Once the muscle has begun the healing process or can function without excessive pain the next step is to prevent scar tissue formation. This can be accomplished in several different ways.
Self-massage and stretching
The hamstring muscle responds well to a foam roller. We instruct our patients to roll up and down on the muscle until they feel a tight spot in the tissue. Once that muscle is found stay in that area for 10-20 seconds breathing through the discomfort. Make sure to work from top to bottom and take your time.
A small tennis or pink rubber ball can be used to get into the attachment point of the muscle. Similar to the foam roller, find your spot and stay on it for 10-20 seconds. Once the muscle starts to dissipate or reduce in tenderness move on to other structures.
Treatment of the Hamstring at CSC+M
The hamstring and ligaments that assist in movements are multiple and expansive. With the hamstring the patient is supine and the leg is lifted and placed on the practitioner’s shoulder. We attempt to straighten the leg but that is not always possible. With direct and firm pressure we hold the muscle while taking the leg from extension to flexion. Essentially we are creating a lengthening of the tissue under our contact point. As you can imagine this muscle is large and requires multiple passes to accomplish a full treatment.
The patient starts prone (face down) and both the foot and lower leg are moved in such a fashion as to shorten and lengthen the muscles, tendons and ligaments. These are large structures and multiple passes are needed to achieve the desired effect. The dorsal sacral and sacro-tuberous ligament are attached close to the sit bones of your pelvis. These need to be addressed with the patient side lying and usually with a strap to assist.
The patient starts prone (face down) and both the foot and lower leg are moved in such a fashion as to shorten and lengthen the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. These are large structures and multiple passes are needed to achieve the desired effect. The dorsal sacral and sacrotuberous ligament are attached close to the sit bones of your pelvis. These need to be addressed with the patient side-lying and usually with a strap to assist.
Here at The Center For Spine Care and Mobility, our practitioners are trained to examine, diagnose, and treat injuries of the entire body but pride ourselves on our integrated approach. Having a trained professional examine and diagnose your issue gives you the best chance for recovery.
Treatment options such as Active Release Technique, Graston Technique, nerve flossing, PNF stretching, specific massage techniques, acupuncture, trigger point injections, and even bracing can all have a positive impact on the way your body heals. If you would like to learn more about our treatment options, feel free to contact our facility.
