How to Heal a Pulled Hamstring

Hamstring injuries are among the most common injuries of athletes who don't stretch before they begin their daily run or activity. Athletes, because of the strain they put on their hamstring when they're running or playing sports, often pull it. So, what should you do is you happen to pull your hamstring? It's very common to follow a policy known as "RICE" more commonly known as Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevate.

Rest

It's important that you rest the injured area after pulling your hamstring. This includes even walking on it most often because walking puts the weight of your upper body onto the leg. It's very common for people to use crutches and to sit or lie down to reduce the strain that the hamstring feels. Many people often feel less pain when using a cane or crutches to move while under the effects of a pulled hamstring anyway, so they are desirable.

Ice

As with most injuries, it's recommended to apply ice or an ice pack to the target area to reduce swelling and pain at the injured site. This should be done as soon as possible after the hamstring is pulled. It's important to apply the ice multiple times a day for about 30 minutes each time.

Compression

Compress the site of the pulled hamstring with a bandage or some other clean cloth. This is important to help reduce swelling of the region. It's important to not wrap the bandage on too tightly as this can lead to numbness, discomfort, and even to more pain for the individual.

Elevate

Elevation is important for blood flow and will help decrease the swelling of the region that was affected by the pulled hamstring. It's important to try to elevate the leg above the heart as much as possible, but don't elevate it so high that the victim is uncomfortable.

After following these steps it's important to give the leg some time to heal. After the pain has subsided it's important to try to some basic stretches and exercising, but don't overdo it. If you're exercising to the point where it's causing pain to the area where the hamstring was pulled, you're overdoing it. If the above instructions don't help the patient in any way, please take him/her to a medical professional. This article outlines a basic solution for a non-serious pulled hamstring; any serious injury should be consulted with a professional.

Sources:

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/pulled_hamstring/article_em.htm
http://www.braceshop.com/blog/?p=294