What will help a torn hamstring?

Question

It has been about 3 weeks now since the tear. I play softball and really want to go all out, but unfortunately can't. What will help me out when playing softball, so that it will not bother me as much.

Answer 1

Try the RICE method.
The R stands for rest, make sure you rest your leg and get plenty of fluids, try not to walk around on it to much, if you must use a crutch.
The I stands for Ice. Make sure you press Ice, or some sports relief that will freeze the injury, onto the injured area.
The C stands for compression, this means placing pressure on the injured area, wrapping it in a bandage will work.
The E stands for elevation, lifting the injury in the air so no pressure is put on it for at least 10 minutes at a time, if not longer.
I hope this helps and that you feel better soon. We learnt this method at school in Applied Science and it's one that many physiotherapists and paramedics use, to get the person back to good health asap.

Answer 2

The first thing you want to do with a hamstring injury is apply ice every hour to two hours for twentyfour hours. Then go to heat. (heating pad, hot tub, bath, shower etc.) as much as possible. In between time you want to keep it wrapped. Get the longest and widest Ace bandage you can. Start wrapping right above the knee. While wrapping move up the thigh pulling up as if the hamstring has torn and fallen so your are imagining that your pulling the hamstring back up into place. If your getting ready to compete the wrap can't be tight enough. Stretch as often as possible when you can during competition but don't over stretch. Often is what your looking for to just stay loose. If your not moving rub it with a fast motion to keep it warm while you stretch. Theres also a hamstring sleeve you can wear to keep it tight and warm while you compete. I would suggest wearing it over the wrap. If you suffer from these injuries often your probably to fast for your body to handle or you just don't know how to stretch properly or effectively and as much as people like to think they can tell you, you really just need to know your own body. You don't have to be injured to wear the sleeve it may help prevent future injuries. I hope this has been helpful.

Answer 3

Keep off of it as much as possible, rest it very well, keep it iced.

If you are in pain, put some Icy/Hot on there.

Rest for about a week or so, keeping it iced as much as possible, and you may want to stretch it out after it starts to heal and not hurt, that will probably help it.

But definately stretch it before exercise or softball. You need to do that. Maybe drink some protein shakes as well.

Hope this helps, good luck with the healing process!

Get back in the game and play hard!

Answer 4

ok, well my dad had a torn hamstring. . . he was waterskiing and well i rather not explain the rest. . . so there is a thing called "grades". . .there are 3 grades, grades are just names for the condition of the tear. . .1 being the least, and 3 being the most!!! You should definatly go to the doctors to have it checked out if you havn't already. . .my dad had a 3 grade so he was imidiately brought to the emergency room. . . he is a big guy but he couln't even get himself out of the water. . . you seem to sound fine. . .

just make sure that you DO NOT try to run on it or anything that might damage it even more. . . Ice it 24-7. . .you shouldn't try to play softball if it is torn. . . the pressure that you would give your leg would just KILL!!!!! lol. . .not to make you worried or anything. . .it is normal if it turns black and blue. . . don't be scared or worried or anything just sit on the couch and watch some TV to keep you and your leg relaxed. . .

i recomend having theropy to keep your leg from not getting to stiff. . . it will help loosen up your mustles and will help your leg heal faster. . . my dad had an electrical massager thing. he said that massaging it every night will also help the pain and the healing to go down. . .

i hope my advice helped you!!!!! GOOD LUCK AND MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT HURT IT AGAIN!!! lol. . . bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

Depends on the severity of the tear and your own, personal ability to heal.

Ice (til numb) twice a day, Aleve or Tylenol (No aspirin! It's a blood thinner.), and rest (keep leg straight). Cool water soaks will also help. Wrap with ACE bandage while working. Once you start to gain some freedom of movement, alternate heating pad treatments and gentle massage with Icy Hot or Biofreeze as you lightly stretch as well as you can. (Tip: do not use the cooling agents with a heating pad. Wait until the effect is gone before using heat.)

If you're like me, this will get you on your feet pretty quickly. I also play softball and pulled a groin muscle something fierce on Sunday and I'm already doing squats and stepper work. Do what you can ASAP and the body will respond with accelerated healing.
Oh, and take in plenty of protein (regenerating muscle) especially right before bed, potassium (muscle flexibility), and get plenty of sleep (the body heals when you sleep).

I wish you all the best.

Answer 6

You should listen to the people who are telling you to be cautious. An injury that has lasted three weeks already sounds rather serious and you should see a doctor and perhaps get into a physical therapy program or some other sort of treatment. Continuing to play on that leg may make your condition worse, and, depending on what it is, could maybe even cause you to need surgery or not be able to play anymore. It's much better to be cautious than to hurt yourself permanently. I recommend that you don't play softball until your doctor gives you permission to do so. Get professional help on this one.

Answer 7

I have been playing softball for many years, and at one point in time in my long standing career suffered such an injury. What I've done in the past is rested the injury to prevent further damage.

I know that you're eager to get out there and really let loose, however doing so may result in further damage. You may alternate in applying ice and heat to help with discomfort. An Epsome salt bath in hot water, and applying green rubbing alcohol to the injured area does wonders.

Take it easy...softball will always be there.

Answer 8

I had a similar injury last summer only mine was a pulled groin muscle. Also being a softball player I didn't want to miss a game. I iced it before a game and jogged slowly around the bases. Then I used an ace bandage during the game. Hope this helps a bit and good luck.

Answer 9

The first time i tore my hamstrings I put a brace around it. A moveable one. But now my hamstrings and cuades are really week so i have to wear that moveable brace everytime i play softball. Just make it tight but engough to move around it. If your foot begins to tingle, you've made it too tight. But, that will help you. Don't go all out the first day. Rest and ice, then heat will make it all better. Sure its going to be sore for a while but if you want to ply softball really bad then your going to have to get through it. Make sure everytime that you play after it is healed streatch really really good, or your going to pull it again.

Answer 10

You can try to wrap the leg in a tight bandage. This will restrict the movement of the muscle. It will also restrict the ability to run since you can not get a full stride. Massage may help the healing time. Use ice after working out and at night.