Hamstring strain

A hamstring strain is a tear or pull of the muscles at the back of the thigh, most often during sprinting or sudden acceleration. It usually causes a sharp pain and can range from a minor tweak to a more significant injury, and re-injury is common if you return to sport too soon.

Physiotherapy guides recovery through graded exercise and clear return-to-play criteria that rebuild strength and speed safely. In this guide we cover grading, rehabilitation timelines, and return-to-sport decisions for hamstring strains — practical guidance for clinicians and straightforward advice so athletes and patients recover fully and reduce the chance of it happening again.