Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffThe hamstring muscles are a group of three muscles that run along the back of your thigh from your hip to just below your knee. 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.
- Hamstring muscle injuries. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00408. Accessed May 18, 2010.
- Vetter CS, et al. Hamstring strain. In: Frontera WR, et al. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/202267569-2/0/1678/62.html?tocnode=55148419&fromURL=62.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4007-1..50061-4_982. Accessed May 18, 2010.
- Shah A, et al. Hip, pelvis, and thigh. In: DeLee JC, et al. DeLee & Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Principles and Practice. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/linkTo?type=bookPage&isbn=978-1-4160-3143-7&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3143-7..00021-X. Accessed May 18, 2010.
- Heiderscheit BC, et al. Hamstring strain injuries: Recommendations for diagnosis, rehabilitation and injury prevention. The Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy. 2010;40:67.
- Sprains and strains. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Sprains_Strains/default.asp. Accessed May 19, 2010.
- Brooks GP, et al. Musculoskeletal injury in the young athlete: Overview of treatment principles for nonoperative injuries. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 18, 2010.
- Brooks GP, et al. Musculoskeletal injury in the young athlete: Overview of rehabilitation for nonoperative injuries. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 18, 2010.
- Hoskins W, et al. The management of hamstring injury - Part 1: Issues in diagnosis. Manual Therapy. 2005;10:96.
- Hoskins W, et al. Hamstring injury management - Part 2: Treatment. Manual Therapy. 2005;10:180.

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