A pulled hamstring is a common injury that affects thousands of soccer players every year.

The hamstring group comprises of three muscles at the back of the thigh which bend the knee and straighten the hip. This group of muscles is commonly injured when the athlete is sprinting or reaching out for a ball.

The athlete will often feel a pull at the back of their leg and have problems running. It’s important that this injury be managed conservatively, as a mismanaged hamstring pull can be one of those slow-healing, niggling injuries.

Management of hamstring injuries is similar to other muscle injuries; the first couple of days post-injury are truly important. The PIER (Pressure, Ice, Elevation, Rest) principle is helpful to control inflammation. While the injury will eventually get better with rest, it is imperative that the athlete see a therapist with experience in sports injuries. That way, the problem can be treated properly and the player can then return to play in a safe manner.

For more information, check out facebook.com/sportmedsoccer and the Province Sports Academy.

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