Tight Hamstring Muscles

The hamstring group of muscles are 3 long muscles (biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus) that cross 2 joints, the hip and the knee. Your hamstring muscles in the back of the thigh, quadriceps muscles in the front, and adductor muscles on the inside of the hip and upper leg are responsible for the legs' multi-directional movements. The hamstring group is primarily responsibile for bending the knee and extending the hip. They are used most during running, especially at higher speeds.

Tight hamstring muscles is a common complaint from runners, and other active people, as well people who sit at a desk all day. When hamstrings tightened up, there is less blood flowing through the muscles which prevents them from working at 100%. By improving blood flow, it is possible to loosen the tight muscles which allows you to use your hamstrings to their full potential.

Limited athletic performance may be a mild consequence of having tight hamstrings, however, a group of tight muscles is more prone to injuries such as strains, pulls, and tears. Tight hamstrings can also cause the pelvis and hips to tilt backward resulting in a flattened lower back and poor posture. This can result in pain in the sacroiliac joint or back pain.

To measure the tightness of the hamstring muscles, check the range of your hip flexion. Lay flat on your back and raise your leg off the floor keeping your knee straight. The normal range for hip flexion is 80-90 degrees; if it is less than 80 degrees the hamstring muscles are considered tight.

Causes of Tight Hamstring Muscles

• Not stretching before or after activity - When you muscles are warm after activity it is most important to stretch properly to prevent the muscles from tightening up as they cool.
• Prolonged sitting while working - The hamstrings contract for a long period of time and they lose their flexibility.
• Genetics - Some people, more predominantly men, are born with short hamstring.
• Lower back problems - Pressure on the scatic nerve, which runs down the back of the leg, can cause the hamstrings to tighten.
• An inactive lifestyle - Inactivity and sitting for long periods causes the hamstrings to lose flexibility.

Tight Hamstring Symptoms

Tight hamstring muscles do not have many symptoms, however, there may be physical indicators that suggest you may have tight hamstring muscles.

• A sway back (improper posture)
• Inability to keep your legs straight while bending at the hips
• Pain in the buttock while sitting

Treating Tight Hamstring Muscle

Tight hamstring are frustrating to live with especially when trying to run or participate in sports. Regular massaging and stretching of the hamstrings is a great way to loosen the muscles to prevent tightness, as well as preparing them before activity. There are also home therapies, Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy^™ and therapeutic ultrasound, that you can use to improve blood flow to the muscles, relax your hamstrings, and keep them healthier overall to reduce the occurance of muscle tightness. These therapies will get you back to regular activities sooner, stop your muscle pain, and reduce the risk of hamstring muscle injury and chronic tightness.

A quick and painless way to get rid of tight hamstrings is to increase blood flow to the muscles. Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy^™ (BFST^®) promotes blood flow to the back of your thigh bringing the necessary oxygen and nutrients to your muscle fibers. BFST^® speeds up the body's natural repair process and loosens the hamstrings by relaxing the fibers.

The Inferno Wrap^® is the tool you need to treat your tight hamstrings and help prevent future injury. Not only does it help you maintain healthier hamstring muscles through BFST^®, the increase in blood flow relaxes your thigh muscles and reduces tightness and the gentle internal warming just feels so good. In addition, the improved blood flow whisks away dead cells and toxins that have built up from your tight hamstring muscles, further loosening your muscles and reducing pain.

The Leg/Arm Inferno Wrap^®, available exclusively from MendMeShop^®, provides effective, non-invasive, non-addictive pain relief and muscle relaxation without side effects.

The benefits of BFST^® do not end once your hamstring stops hurting! Even when your upper thigh muscles are not tight, your activities can put them at risk of an overuse injury, tightness, or strain. An Inferno Wrap^® treatment before activity is an easy way to warm up the muscles and prepare them for use. Then, end your day with another treatment to prevent tightness from setting in overnight. This incredible healing tool will be useful for years to come!

Click here to learn more about how BFST^® and Inferno Wraps^® work.

Keeping your hamstring muscles loose and healthy will help to reduce the chance of the muscle tightening. If you are already experiencing muscle tightness, treating your hamstring with ultrasound therapy will improve flexibility and your range of motion.

Healthy tissue is strong and elastic but when muscle fibers have been injured or overused they are weaker because the once healthy tissue is held together with scar tissue. Healthy tissue allows your muscles and tendons to expand and contract easily, without pain and with less risk of tearing again. Scar tissue leaves your muscles tight, prone to injury, and limits your range of motion!

Therapeutic ultrasound is the most effective and pain-free way to soften scar tissue that has formed in the muscle from slight tears or injury over time. Physical therapy, manipulation, and deep tissue massage can also help to treat scar tissue but these methods can be expensive, time consuming, and painful.

A personal MendMeShop^® Ultrasound Therapy Unit allows you to treat your tight hamstring muscles conveniently in your own home, on your schedule, and for less time and money than any other method. Therapeutic ultrasound also treats inflammation, which speeds along the healing process. With a 15 minute treatment, 2 times a day, you can treat your hamstrings too improve the range of motion in your hips and upper legs. That's all it takes to get your hamstring muscles back to normal and you back to your activities!

Click here to learn more about Ultrasound Therapy

Enhance Your Ultrasound Treatments With Phonophoresis

When using an ultrasound unit, proper conductive ultrasound gel is required. Without it, the sound waves will not transfer into the tissue making the treatment ineffective. Although you will receive all the benefits of ultrasound therapy with standard ultrasound gel, medicated ultrasound gel can multiply the benefits without any extra time or effort. All you have to do is use medicated gel instead of standard ultrasound gel during your treatments.

Here's how it works! The sound waves carry the medicinal molecules found inside the gel deep into your tissue. This process is known as phonophoresis and it increases the healing power of therapeutic ultrasound.

Our exclusive MendMeShop^® Lavender Infusion Gel is specially formulated with Natural Bulgarian Lavender, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, and Menthol. These ingredients have been used for centuries to reduce inflammation and relax tissue to speed healing. Now they are available in this incredible ultrasound gel to give you 2 therapies in 1 treatment. You get the benefit of the regenerating sound waves from the ultrasound device itself AND the added bonus of the therapeutic ingredients inside the gel being delivered straight to your hamstring muscles where it is most effective to reduce tension and pain. And that's not all - our Lavender Infusion Ultrasound Gel is free of the potentially harmful ingredients of paraben, DEA, or dyes.

1 FREE bottle of MendMeShop^® Lavender Infusion Ultrasound Gel comes with every MendMeShop^® Ultrasound Therapy Unit. If you have skin sensitivities or are sensitive to scents, you have the option of using our Non-fragrant Ultrasound Gel with your MendMeShop^® Ultrasound Therapy Unit. This gel is formulated without medicinal ingredients BUT just like our Lavender Infusion Gel, it does not contain paraben, DEA, or dyes!

Please be aware that this information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider before starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Or email us at service@AidYourHamstring.com