Hamstring Strains

Written By Martin Spitzeck

Physiotherapy for Athlete Hamstring Tears & Strains

Hamstring tears and strains are common in athletes and can sideline you from training and competition. Our physiotherapy programs reduce pain, restore muscle strength, and optimise recovery, helping athletes return to their sport safely and at peak performance.

Understanding Hamstring Tears and Strains

Hamstring injuries occur when one or more of the three hamstring muscles (biceps femoris, semitendinosus, semimembranosus) are overstretched or overloaded. These injuries are common in sports that involve sprinting, sudden acceleration or deceleration, kicking, and jumping.

Severity ranges from mild strains to complete tears. Early physiotherapy is crucial for reducing recovery time, preventing re-injury, and restoring optimal performance.

Common Symptoms We Assess

  • Sudden sharp pain at the back of the thigh

  • Swelling, bruising, or tenderness along the hamstring

  • Weakness in knee flexion or hip extension

  • Pain during sprinting, jumping, or kicking

  • Difficulty walking or performing sport-specific movements

  • Recurrent hamstring injuries

How Physiotherapy Helps Hamstring Injuries

Our athlete-focused physiotherapy approach targets pain relief, tissue healing, strength restoration, and functional performance.

Our Treatment Approach Includes:

  • Comprehensive Assessment
    Identifying injury severity, muscle imbalance, flexibility deficits, and biomechanical factors.

  • Manual Therapy & Soft Tissue Release
    Techniques to reduce stiffness, swelling, and scar tissue formation.

  • Targeted Strengthening & Stretching

    • Progressive hamstring strengthening

    • Eccentric exercises to improve muscle resilience

    • Hip and core stability exercises

    • Sport-specific drills for safe return to play

  • Load Management & Training Modification
    Adjusting intensity, sprinting, and sport-specific movements to protect healing tissue while maintaining fitness.

  • Return-to-Sport Planning
    Gradual, structured progression from pain-free movement to full sprinting, jumping, and competition readiness.

  • Injury Prevention Strategies
    Biomechanical corrections, muscle conditioning, and flexibility programs to reduce future hamstring injury risk.

Areas We Treat for Hamstring Injuries

  • Hamstring muscles – biceps femoris, semitendinosus, semimembranosus

  • Hip and pelvis – mobility and stability

  • Knee joint – support and strength for flexion and extension

  • Gluteal muscles – strength for optimal hip extension

  • Core muscles – stabilisation and injury prevention

  • Functional movements – sprinting, jumping, cutting, kicking

Why Athletes Choose Our Clinic

  • Evidence-based physiotherapy tailored for hamstring injuries

  • Hands-on treatment combined with progressive strengthening and sport-specific training

  • Individualised return-to-sport programs to reduce re-injury risk

  • Focus on long-term performance, flexibility, and injury prevention

  • Experience treating athletes from recreational to elite levels

Book your assessment today to recover from your hamstring tear or strain and get back on the field, track, or court with confidence

Martin Spitzeck
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