Did you know that the hamstring is actually made up of three muscles? These muscles are known as:
BICEPS FEMORIS (sitting closer to the outside of the leg)
SEMI-MEMBRANOSUS (sitting closer to the inside of the leg)
SEMI-TENDINOSUS (in between the biceps femoris and semimembranosus)
Each of these muscles that make up the hamstring group originate and insert into different areas of the hip and knee – allowing treatment to be quite specific when it comes to dysfunction in this area!
The hamstring crosses two joints in the body – the hip and the knee. This means the muscle is involved in hip extension (taking the leg backwards) and knee flexion (bending the knee).
When muscles of this group are dysfunctional, it can lead to a number of symptoms:
- Spasming, tenderness and tightness
- Swelling and bruising
- Pain in the back of the thigh and lower buttocks
- Pain when walking, straightening/bending the leg, bending over
- Can be the cause of lower back pain
- Can cause postural imbalance (posterior pelvic tilt/straightening of the lower back)
These symptoms can come on from a tear, strain/sprain injury, muscle tightness or poor posture that is causing the muscle to become dysfunctional.
So what are some things you can do about it?
It really depends on the severity of the injury/dysfunction. Generally, a check up from your health professional is ideal. A chiropractor can look, find and assess the problem and how severe it is. Adjustments to the spine to correct the alignment and ensure correct nerve function is the first step! At Align Chiropractic, through the use of Applied Kinesiology, a very concise treatment is applied to the area to improve the functioning of the muscle and get it onto its journey to healing.
If these symptoms sound familiar, you may be suffering from some form of hamstring dysfunction.
Contact the clinic for more information or book online for an appointment by CLICKING HERE.
We’ve got your back!
ALIGN CHIROPRACTIC HEALTH CLINIC