You have a hamstring strain, and you’re wondering how long it will affect your life and your ability to play sports. Well, buckle up. Hamstring strain recovery times can be lengthy.
How long can your hamstring strain recovery time last?
We commonly think of the hamstring as one structure. But the reality is that there are three separate hamstring muscles. Hamstring injuries are quite common in athletes, and it’s estimated that up to 16% of all sports injuries are hamstring strains. Just how long your hamstring strain recovery time lasts depends on how severe your injury is. Some possible severity level-related recovery times are:
- At least three weeks for a mild (grade 1) hamstring strain.
- Four to eight weeks for a moderate (grade 2) hamstring strain.
- Three months or more for a severe (grade 3) strain since it will likely require a surgical repair.
Why can it take a long time to recover from a hamstring strain?
You might have been surprised at the length of time it can take to recover from a hamstring strain. You may also be wondering why this injury can take so long to recover. As we said, strain severity is one reason, but how your hamstring muscles are used is another. Every time you move your knee, your hamstring muscles must lengthen or contract. They are even working hard when you are just standing or sitting still. The fact that they are almost always working makes it much harder for these muscles to heal. Also, other medical conditions, your fitness level and other individual factors can affect your healing time.
What can physical therapists do to minimize your hamstring strain recovery time?
Physical therapists seek to help you recover from injuries as quickly as possible. To this end, your physical therapist may create a hamstring strain treatment plan that includes:
- Aquatic therapy — Water-based, or aquatic, therapy can be very helpful for hamstring injuries. This technique takes advantage of the fact the water reduces the effects of gravity. Hamstring injury patients can do recovery exercises while putting less strain on their injured muscle as a result.
- Soft tissue mobilization — Scar tissue can form in muscles as they heal. The result can be increased pain and stiffness in the healing muscle. Physical therapists can help break up scar tissue in your recovering hamstring with soft tissue mobilization. Your physical therapist will use their hands to perform this technique. They will first use their hands to examine your hamstring muscles for areas of scar tissue. Then, they will move their hands along the muscle while applying pressure to break up the scar tissue.
- Running form analysis — Before you return to running or other sports, your physical therapist may want to do a running form analysis. Why? It can help them identify form issues that can lead to future injuries. Your physical therapist can then help you address your form issues before they lead to future problems.
Excel PT can help reduce your hamstring strain recovery time
Want to recover from a hamstring strain as quickly as possible? Then you should come work with our helpful Excel Sports & Physical Therapy team. We can do a free screening for you that’s designed to pinpoint how severe your strain is and how long it may take to heal. In addition, our physical therapists are adept at creating individualized treatment plans intended to:
- Reduce pain.
- Improve flexibility and function.
- Decrease recovery times.
- Slash your risk of future injuries.
Contact our team today for more information about our sports injury treatment options or to schedule an initial appointment to start treating your hamstring strain.
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