Whether you are a baseball player, dancer, or even golfer, hamstring strains can make playing impossible. Let’s take a look at hamstring strains and learn why they happen, how to prevent them, and what to do if one occurs.
The hamstring muscles are located on the back of the leg. They originate from the bottom of the pelvis at the Ischial tuberosity (the bone you sit on), run along the back of the leg and attach at the anterior portion of the knee. They not only flex (or bend) the knee, they act like the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and help keep the lower leg stable.
Hamstrings are made up from three different muscles, two of which connect to the inside of the leg called the Semimembranosus and Semitendinosus. The other connects to the outside of the leg called the Biceps Femoris. The most common injury to the hamstring occurs at the Biceps Femoris.