Hamstring tendon pain and inflammation is most commonly caused by overuse of the hamstring muscles.

With repetitive use during running and other sports that involve repetitive kicking, jumping, or quick “start/stop” motions, stress is placed on your hamstring muscles causing wear and tear to the tendon fibers that attach the muscles to the bones. When tendonitis occurs over time, it is referred to as chronic tendonitis.

Overloading or overexerting your legs by doing too much too soon, and too quickly can also be a cause. This sudden increase in the intensity or frequency of participation after being inactive for a while makes you susceptible to acute tendonitis. Acute tendonitis refers to and injury to the tendon that causes inflammation quickly.

Biomechanical issues, such as overpronation and leg length discrepancies, which affect the way you walk can put excess stress on the hamstring tendons due to the imbalanced. Other causes that can put excess strain on the hamstring tendons are:

  • lack of strengthen in your core muscles (i.e. abdominals and obliques)
  • age-related weaknesses and/or degeneration
  • strength differences in your hamstring, quadriceps or hip muscles
  • lack of exercise and obesity
  • genetics

Improper training techniques (running on hilly or hard surfaces), incorrect form(overstriding in running or lifting too much weight) and old equipment(worn out shoes) will also put you at more risk for injury. Previous injuries that haven’t healed properly are a frequent cause of tendonitis and tendinosis.

Hamstring Tendon Treatments

Regardless of the cause of your hamstring injury. You want the pain to stop and to be able to use your hamstring again as soon as possible. It is important to treat hamstring tendon injuries as soon as possible, as any activity or strain you put on your tendon can re-injure it further. Though the pain, discomfort, and inconvenience of a hamstring injury can be overwhelming, it is possible to overcome it.

As your body repairs your tendon it is best that it heal quickly to minimize scar tissue formation – something Blood Flow Stimulation Therapyis great at! Even with optimum healing, there is always less elasticity in a previously injured tendon. This can cause the tendon to hurt during exercise and most everyday activities. However, if you heal your injured tendon efficiently and quickly, your chance of re-injury later on is much lower.

Although it is recommended that you rest your hamstring tendons following injury it can be difficult to do as it is an essential tendon for walking and daily activities. Fortunately, there are healing tools that can help treat your tendon and speed up the healing process so you can get back to a life without pain and risk of further injury.