Hamstring Muscle Tear

Learn more about hamstring tears and how you can recover naturally with Restore Physiotherapy.

What is a Hamstring Muscle Tear?

A hamstring muscle tear happens when a muscle in the hamstring is stretched or torn. It is a painful and debilitating condition that reduces an individual’s mobility in sports and their usual activities.

One of the most commonly strained hamstring muscles is the biceps femoris, a long muscle located in the posterior compartment of the thigh. The hamstring muscle also comprises the semitendinosus and semimembranosus muscles, and it's important to determine which muscle is the issue when facing a hamstring injury. This will allow patients to undergo a targeted rehabilitation plan that’s specific to the location of their injury.

Signs and symptoms of a hamstring muscle tear

Reclaim your hamstring mobility with Restore Physiotherapy

At Restore, we believe that strong hamstrings start with tailored recovery and muscle strengthening. Our team has helped over thousands of patients recover from acute hamstring injuries, from weekend runners to AFL athletes. We’re also the trusted sports physios in Kew among athletes and coaches who need a second opinion on their hamstring muscle strains.

Whether it's post-surgery recovery help or preparing for a competition, our team of clinical physicians can guide you with knowledge, experience, and care.

How we diagnose hamstring muscle tears

History Assessment

We’ll take a detailed history of your current and past injuries

Physical Assessment

Our team will assess your hamstrings’ strength, flexibility, and function to determine your injury.

Testing and Scans

Depending on the severity, we’ll perform specific testing and refer you for an MRI scan to help us understand more.

Physiotherapy case study: Successful return to AFL after
proximal hamstring rupture

Successful Return to AFL

Scenario

An elite AFL player came to us with a proximal hamstring rupture, which needed him to undergo surgery. Looking at the physical demands of AFL and the severity of the injury, we carefully structured a progressive rehabilitation plan to help him return to the game safely.

Solution

Rehabilitation began just one week post-surgery with low-grade bodyweight strength exercises to activate the hamstring and surrounding muscles. By week 3, we progressed to light jogging and began loaded strength training in the gym, including targeted hamstring work.

At 4.5 weeks, we started introducing heavy strength work and high-intensity movements such as Nordic hamstring curls and agility drills to build resilience. Controlled kicking on the injured side was introduced at 6 weeks.

Results

By week 5, the player began running at 80% speed, and by week 8, he was at full speed. Full team training resumed at 9 weeks, and the player made a complete return to AFL match play at 10 weeks post-surgery. He has since continued to perform at the elite level competition without reinjury.

Frequently asked questions

What are the key mistakes people make when returning from a hamstring tear?

Some of the common mistakes we see happen during recovery are:

Not completing enough strength training to handle high-speed running
Not following the proper running recovery progression (e.g. going from jogging straight to sprinting)
Resting until the individual feels fine, then returning to full training too quickly
Ignoring signs that the hamstring isn’t coping well with loading (e.g. tightness or soreness after sessions)
Overloading the muscle by cramming too much running, strength, and skill work into a short timeframe (often to speed up recovery)

What strategies do you use to reduce reinjury risk among patients?

To prevent reinjury, we will accurately diagnose and educate our patients, as well as have them follow a specific rehabilitation plan. Here’s how we typically help our clients reduce their risk of injury:

Make an accurate diagnosis regarding injury location and severity
Ensure there are no contributing factors (e.g. lower back pain, knee issues) that may increase the risk of reinjury
Guide patients through a structured and progressive hamstring strength program (including eccentrics)
Progress running speed gradually before full sprinting
Implement appropriate recovery strategies during rehab and after returning to sport

Do you work with other health professionals for this injury when needed?

Yes, we work closely with coaches, strength and conditioning staff, and other health professionals. Our physiotherapists have experience working in elite sports environments, including AFL clubs, so we understand the importance of keeping coaches informed of rehab progress and timelines.

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	03 9855 1122