Video Description
The hamstrings are a group of three muscles running along the back of the thigh, from below the knee up to the hip. A hamstring injury is damage or a tear to one of these muscles, and it is most common in teenagers and young adults — roughly 15 to 30 — who are active in gym and sport.
It often follows activity the muscle was not prepared for.
This page covers how hamstring injuries happen, their grades, and how physiotherapy supports recovery.
How it happens
- Starting to run or jog without a proper warm-up
- Ramping up quickly — for example moving from walking to running within a few days to lose weight fast
- Gym work such as leg press or hamstring curls with too much weight, or continuing after the muscle is tired
- Sport with repeated kicking or sprinting — footballers commonly experience it — where the muscle lacks strength or flexibility
Symptoms
Pain is felt at the back of the thigh — it may be in the upper, middle, or lower part — and walking and going down stairs can be difficult.
Grades and recovery
On assessment a physiotherapist grades the injury. For mild to moderate tears, treatment supports healing by improving circulation and reducing pain and swelling, followed by strengthening and stretching exercises. A complete tear usually needs a period of immobilisation first.
Strengthening rebuilds the muscle and stretching restores its length. Before returning to sport, sport-specific muscle training helps reduce the chance of the injury recurring. Recovery times vary with the grade of tear.
Booking an assessment
If the back of your thigh was strained during sport or training, an assessment can grade it and guide recovery. Learn more about sports injury physiotherapy or call to book.
Chennai Physio Care® — Anna Nagar West, Chennai
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Home visits are available across Anna Nagar, Kilpauk, Mogappair, Arumbakkam, Koyambedu, and Korattur. Call us to discuss whether a home visit is appropriate for your situation.
Last reviewed by Dr. N Vanathy, PT — July 2026 Chennai Physio Care®, Anna Nagar West, Chennai