Hamstring pull

When hamstring muscle fibers are stretched too far and are followed by a bleeding inside the muscle, a hamstring pull occurs. Hamstring pull can happen at any of the attachment sides of a hamstring muscle or at any part of muscle. Usual causes of a hamstring pull are acute and chronic ones. Acute is caused by an isolated athletic activity, while chronic is caused by chronic condition as a result of muscle weakness (for example inadequate healing of muscle).
Depending by the severity of injury it is classified into three grades.
First Degree symptoms of hamstring pull includes stiffness and pain, which can facilitate during training, but after it stiffness and pain frequently returns, sometimes with greater intensity than before.
Second Degree symptom includes: larger painful area than first degree, occasionally appeared black and blue because of a bleeding inside the muscle. Possible limping while walking can happen.
Third Degree is a serious injury, instant stabbing pain follows the hamstring pull and painless walking is impossible. The muscle is fully torn and big bump of muscle tissue can happen.

Treatment

It is extremely vital that treatment for a hamstring pull begins immediately after the injury. The most vital period for treatment is the 48 hours after the injury has happen. In this important period this treatments can be used to minimize consequences of a hamstring pull:

• Recommended treatment is RICE (Rest, Ice, Compress, and Elevate) protocol (wiki)
• For minimizing bleeding inside the muscle wearing a compression bandage is highly recommended.
• It is very important to mobilize the injured hamstring early, so that the proper rehabilitation of the muscle can be initiated. Proper rehabilitation involves strengthening and stretching exercises in the no-pain range that especially helps in reducing the swelling.
• Talk with a physician.