The hamstrings : A common but preventable disease

In the comments of football matches, rugby or during an athletics competition, the reporter is heard saying following a sudden stoppage of a player or athlete: " He has a strained hamstring ». The expression is most often used when the athlete concerned automatically holds their upper thigh and stops continuing their effort. eh yes, the athlete has just suffered an injury, the severity of which depends on the degree of damage to the muscle. From manifestation to treatment of hamstrings, Toussaint Azondekon, specialist in the field discusses the subject.

“The hamstrings are muscles in the thigh that allow the knee to bend, it is the antagonists of the quadriceps that allow it to extend,” explains physiotherapist Toussaint Azondekon. He adds to his words with those of the sports physiotherapist, Julien Ulmo, that “good balance of thigh muscles with toned quadriceps and hamstrings is important to avoid hurting yourself”. The hamstrings are located “opposite to the quadriceps femoris muscle in the thigh,” he says., before continuing “Better this muscle group starts from the hip to the back of the tibia and fibula”.

Symptoms of Hamstring Rupture

According to the specialist, there are two kinds of formless symptom: mild and severe lesions. “As regards the benign lesion,  there is a slight pain and an increase in volume (swelling) of the affected part in the following minutes. As for the severe lesion, there is poor muscle function related to pain and muscle weakness.. It is manifested by intense pain in the back of the thigh. It is most often observed during races that the athlete automatically stops in his effort. If it's in a sprint, he jumps on the second leg and falls. This results in bruising or discoloration of the back of the leg below the knee in the first few days. The fragility of the hamstrings can persist for weeks” notes the physiotherapist.

Causes

According to the expert, this type of injury occurs in contact sports, running and jumping like athletics, football, Rugby or martial arts. “Hamstring rupture is caused by insufficient or improper warming up and injuries occur when the knee extends and the muscle contracts. There is also an unbalanced diet or insufficient hydration. To these factors, muscle fatigue must be added because it reduces the absorptive capacity of the muscles, which makes them more susceptible to injury,” observes the physiotherapist.

Diagnostics

“On the advice of the physiotherapist or Physio, the athlete consults a sports doctor” insists Toussaint Azondekon. The doctor “palpates or presses on the part to note the existence of pain, muscle weakness, muscle swelling or injury,” he says.. He adds: “According to the results of his observation, he can prescribe three kinds of confirmation test before starting a treatment : radiography, MRI or ultrasound. The X-ray may reveal a tearing of a bone pellet on the ischium. MRI offers the best images of soft tissues, such as the hamstring muscles which allows the doctor to determine the degree of injury while ultrasound allows diagnosis of the injury, determines his level and rank..

Treatment

"The first aid to be done on the spot consists of applying ice and a compress bandage on the thigh" advises the specialist. The sports doctor can "prescribe drugs, in particular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (AINS) or Analgesics. Crutches may be necessary if walking is painful,” he says..

To avoid this type of injury that can be a blow to the professional career of the athlete, it is imperative to warm up well before entering the competition. A good diet is also recommended.

Leopold GBEGAN