Hip & Thigh

What It Is

Tendons are fibrous cords of tissue connecting the muscles to the bones. They are strong, thick, tough structures and are capable of absorbing significant force. However, if the load applied to the tendon is too great, the tendon can rupture. In the most severe hamstring injuries, the tendon tears completely away from the bone, sometimes pulling a small piece of bone away with it; this is called an avulsion injury (AAOS, n.d.). Like other hamstring injuries, these are caused by large, sudden loads (AAOS, n.d.). This is a significant injury that can take several months to recover from (NHS, 2025), although most people who have the tendon surgically repaired are able to return to sport (Jokela et al., 2022).

Hamstring Tendon Rupture Anatomy

Hamstring muscles run down the back of the thigh. Three hamstring muscles make up the area: the semitendinosus, the biceps femoris and the semimembranosus. They begin at the bottom of the pelvis, on a bone called the ischial tuberosity (your "sitting bone"). They cross the knee joint and end at the top of the lower leg. Hamstring muscle fibres join with the tough connective tissue of the tendons near the places where the tendons attach to the bones. The hamstring muscles help you to extend your leg straight back and to bend your knee (AAOS, n.d.).

Hamstring tendons can rupture at either end, and any of the three hamstring muscles can be affected. Tears from the pelvis are more common than tears from the shin bone (AAOS, n.d.).

With a severe hamstring injury you may feel a sharp pain in the back of the leg and a snapping sensation, or hear a "pop". The back of the thigh may become tender, swollen and bruised, and you may have difficulty standing or walking on the leg (NHS, 2025). If you think you may have ruptured your hamstring tendon, seek medical attention as soon as possible, either at the hospital or with a doctor. The injury can then be assessed, and an X-ray or MRI scan may be used to find out exactly what has happened (AAOS, n.d.).

Not a diagnosis — for more information, contact me or another trusted healthcare provider.

Treatment

Self-Care & Treatment

How to Treat a Hamstring Tendon Rupture

1. Get Assessed Promptly

Not every hamstring tendon injury needs an operation. Surgery is mainly used when the tendons have pulled completely away from the bone, particularly when two or three of the tendons are involved, while partial injuries are often managed without surgery (Jokela et al., 2022; AAOS, n.d.). Studies show that repairs carried out early give better results than repairs that are delayed (Jokela et al., 2022), so get the injury assessed promptly and discuss the options with the doctors.

2. Rest

Rest and protect the leg, and try not to put weight on it (NHS, 2025). Putting more stress on the injured tendon will only make the problem worse. You will likely need crutches (AAOS, n.d.).

3. Ice

Apply an ice pack (or a bag of frozen vegetables) wrapped in a tea towel to the injured area for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours (NHS, 2025). Never apply ice directly to the skin, or you could end up with a burn. To help prevent swelling, avoid heat (such as hot baths and heat packs), massage and alcohol for the first 3 days (NHS, 2025).

4. Elevation

Keep your leg raised on a pillow as much as possible (NHS, 2025), ideally higher than your heart while you are resting (AAOS, n.d.). Elevation helps to reduce swelling.

5. Rehabilitation

Whether or not you have surgery, you will need a rehabilitation programme, which usually starts with gentle stretches to improve movement and then gradually adds strengthening exercises (AAOS, n.d.). Your medical team sets the plan, and I can support it with hands-on work and exercise once they say it's safe. See the My Approach tab for how I work.

Follow your team's instructions on when to put weight on the leg and when to progress. Rehabilitation after repair of a tear at the pelvis end typically takes at least 6 months (AAOS, n.d.).

6. Pain Relief

A pharmacist can give you advice about suitable treatments that may help relieve the pain of a hamstring injury (NHS, 2025). If you have surgery, your medical team will advise you about pain relief.

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor or nurse practitioner

Options outside my scope

Surgical repair: an operation in which the surgeon pulls the torn tendon back into place and reattaches it to the bone using small devices called anchors (AAOS, n.d.). Your surgical team will give you their own instructions for recovery afterwards.

How I can help (see the My Approach tab)

Easing the muscles that work overtime while you're on crutches
Swelling, scar and hamstring mobility, once your team allows
Rebuilding strength, following your team's plan

Tips

Overloading the muscles with large, sudden forces can tear the tendon from the bone, so take care with sudden sprints, jumps and heavy lifting (AAOS, n.d.).
Be careful when taking part in sporting activities such as basketball, football and soccer, which involve sprinting.
Tight muscles are more vulnerable to injury, so include stretching as well as strengthening in your regular training (AAOS, n.d.).
Avoid exercising when you are very tired – you are more likely to get injured when your muscles are tired (NHS, 2025).
If you sustain a rupture and then undergo surgery, make sure you work closely with your medical team, and with me, to regain full range of motion and strength in the hamstring.

Treatment

My Approach

After a hamstring tendon rupture, the tendon needs protection while it heals, whether or not you've had surgery. Your medical team decides when you can put weight on the leg, how far it can move, and when to progress. I work inside those limits and need your team's okay before any hands-on treatment.

Please bring any X-ray or scan reports and notes from your medical team to your first visit. They're an important part of planning safe treatment for you.

Early On: Protected

Easing the low back, other leg, shoulders and arms, which work overtime on crutches
Gentle lymphatic drainage and elevation to help with swelling
Gentle ankle, knee and hip movement, as far as your team allows

As Your Team Allows More

Gentle work along the healing tendon, not across it
Scar work once any incision has fully healed; near the buttock, only with your informed consent and a written consent form
Gentle stretching, then strengthening from holds to bridges and slow lifting-and-lowering

Later: Return to Strength

Heavier hamstring and hip strength, including gym work

A graded return to running and sport, once your team agrees

If your calf becomes painful, swollen and warm, or you have chest pain or shortness of breath, call 911.

What to Expect

Typical Course

Typical course: While the leg is protected, visits are usually short and about weekly; once your team allows more, most people come once or twice a week, then less often as they manage on their own. Recovery takes several months, and rehabilitation after a repair at the pelvis end usually takes at least 6 months, following your medical team's plan.

What I Focus On

Working Within Your Team's Limits

Compensation Relief

Swelling Control

Scar & Hamstring Mobility

Return to Strength

Sources

References

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (n.d.) Hamstring muscle injuries. OrthoInfo. Available at: https://www.orthoinfo.org/en/diseases--conditions/hamstring-muscle-injuries/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
Jokela, A. et al. (2022) 'A systematic review of surgical intervention in the treatment of hamstring tendon ruptures: current evidence on the impact on patient outcomes', Annals of Medicine, 54(1), pp. 978–988. doi: 10.1080/07853890.2022.2059560. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9009934/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
NHS (2025) Hamstring injury. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hamstring-injury/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).

Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooHamstring Tendon Rupture

What It Is

Hamstring Tendon Rupture Anatomy

Self-Care & Treatment

How to Treat a Hamstring Tendon Rupture

1. Get Assessed Promptly

2. Rest

3. Ice

4. Elevation

5. Rehabilitation

6. Pain Relief

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor or nurse practitioner

Tips

My Approach

Early On: Protected

As Your Team Allows More

Later: Return to Strength

Typical Course

References

Related Conditions

Book a session

Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooHamstring Tendon Rupture

What It Is

Hamstring Tendon Rupture Anatomy

Self-Care & Treatment

How to Treat a Hamstring Tendon Rupture

1. Get Assessed Promptly

2. Rest

3. Ice

4. Elevation

5. Rehabilitation

6. Pain Relief

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor or nurse practitioner

Tips

My Approach

Early On: Protected

As Your Team Allows More

Later: Return to Strength

Typical Course

References

Related Conditions

Hip Labral Tear

Quadriceps Tendon Tear

Adductor Tear

Adductor Tendinopathy

Book a session