There is always the risk of incurring and injury when you are involved in sports. You could have a higher chance of receiving a certain type of injury depending on the type of sport that you play. One of the most popular sports in the UK is football and one of the most common injuries among football players is a hamstring injury. When a leg is over extended the hamstring muscle can be stretched which can cause it to tear or break, which in turn can sideline a player for an extended period of time while it heals.
The hamstring area can refer to any of the three muscles located behind the thigh towards the back of the leg and is one of the most commonly used muscles in a whole range of sports. As the hamstring muscle helps us to run and move any sports which require these activities can risk injury of this area. The hamstring muscle connects the knee with the hip any injuries that occur in either of these areas can also put additional strain on the hamstring muscle and cause it to tear or rupture.
Preventative measures can be taken to ensure the longevity of hamstring muscles and many basic exercise classes such as pilates and yoga take extensive time to focus on these muscle areas as they are a position where injuries are most likely to occur.
Special elasticated bands are used to allow the muscle to stretch beyond the normal capability and therefore help to prevent any over-extension that may occur as a result of participating in sport. The muscle is strengthened through these exercises and is therefore less likely to tear.
When it comes to determining your flexibility, the hamstring is a muscle that is commonly used as a measurement and when it comes to doing the sit and reach test it is infact this muscle that is being tested. When you are told to “touch your toes” it is in fact the hamstring muscle that you are stretching and strengthening.
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