From the Guidelines
Teenage hamstring pain is most commonly caused by muscle strains from sports activities, overuse injuries, or growth-related issues, with prior injury, low energy availability, and excessive training volume being significant risk factors 1. The most frequent causes of teenage hamstring pain include:
- Acute hamstring strains from sudden movements or inadequate warm-up
- Growth-related conditions like apophysitis (inflammation where tendons attach to growth plates)
- Overuse injuries from repetitive activities These injuries occur frequently during adolescence because rapid bone growth can temporarily outpace muscle flexibility, creating tension at muscle-tendon junctions and increasing vulnerability to injury during physical activities. Prevention strategies, such as proper warm-up routines, gradual training progression, and attention to technique, are crucial in reducing the risk of hamstring injuries, and neuromuscular training programs, including a modified FIFA 11+ program, appear promising for reducing lower extremity injuries 1. Treatment typically involves:
- Rest, ice application for 15-20 minutes several times daily, compression with an elastic bandage, and elevation of the affected leg
- Over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen (400-600mg every 6-8 hours with food) or acetaminophen (500-1000mg every 6 hours) to manage pain and inflammation
- Gentle stretching and strengthening exercises introduced gradually once acute pain subsides Teenagers should avoid returning to sports until they have full, pain-free range of motion and at least 90% of their normal strength. It is essential to monitor and manage training volume, including scheduled rest and recovery, to prevent overuse injuries and allow for proper treatment when injuries occur 1.
From the Research
Causes of Teenage Hamstring Pain
There are no direct research papers to assist in answering this question, as the provided studies focus on the treatment of hamstring injuries rather than their causes. However, some possible causes of hamstring pain can be inferred from the context of the studies:
- Overuse or strain: Hamstring injuries are common in athletes, suggesting that overuse or strain may be a contributing factor to hamstring pain 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- Musculoskeletal disorders: Hamstring injury is described as the most common musculoskeletal disorder, implying that underlying musculoskeletal issues may contribute to hamstring pain 5.
- Sports-related activities: The studies frequently mention sports-related activities, such as track and field, long distance running, and field-based sports, as a context for hamstring injuries, suggesting that these activities may be a cause of hamstring pain 2, 3, 5, 6.
Treatment of Hamstring Injuries
The provided studies discuss various treatments for hamstring injuries, including:
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections: PRP injections have been investigated as a potential treatment for hamstring injuries, with some studies showing promising results 2, 4, 5, 6.
- Rehabilitation programs: Rehabilitation programs are often used in conjunction with other treatments, such as PRP injections, to aid in the recovery of hamstring injuries 2, 4, 5, 6.
- Shockwave therapy: One study found that shockwave therapy was more effective than a multi-modal intervention in improving symptoms and physical function in patients with proximal hamstring tendinopathy 3.
- Surgery: Surgery has been shown to result in a large reduction in symptoms and physical function in patients with proximal hamstring tendinopathy, although the evidence is of very low quality 3.