Most hamstring injuries are a strain: a pull or overstretch of the muscles at the back of the thigh. Physiotherapy in Airdrie can help you understand the injury and plan a gradual return to activity. A minor strain often heals with rest and other treatment. A physiotherapist can assess your strength, movement, training load and sport demands, then guide rehabilitation without setting a promised recovery date.
Key facts
- A hamstring strain is an overstretch or pull of the muscles at the back of the thigh during exercise, lifting or an injury.
- Early home care may include resting the leg and avoiding weight for a day or two, icing for 10 to 20 minutes, using an elastic wrap and elevating the leg.
- You should return to your usual activity slowly rather than resuming it all at once.
- Call a doctor or 811 now for severe or increasing pain, tingling, weakness, numbness, or an inability to move the leg.
- In Alberta you do not need a doctor’s referral to see a physiotherapist, although some benefit plans ask for one.
What is a hamstring strain?
A hamstring strain is an overstretch or pull affecting the muscles at the back of your thigh. It can happen during exercise, lifting or another injury. The clinic’s hamstring guide explains the area in more detail.
MyHealth Alberta's hamstring strain care instructions explain that a minor strain often heals well with rest and other treatment, while a severe strain may need medical treatment. The level of pain and your ability to move are important parts of deciding what to do next.
What should you do in the first days?
In the first days, protect the leg and follow the home-care guidance that fits your situation. Do not rush back to your usual activity.
MyHealth Alberta advises resting the leg and not putting weight on it for a day or two. It also lists ice for 10 to 20 minutes at a time, an elastic wrap and elevation as home-care measures. Return to your usual level of activity slowly. MyHealth Alberta's hamstring rehabilitation guidance says to start exercises slowly, ease off if pain starts, and follow clinical direction about when to begin and which exercises are suitable.
When should you see a doctor first?
Seek medical advice before physiotherapy if you have severe or increasing pain, tingling, weakness, numbness or cannot move the leg. These are reasons to call a doctor or 811 now.
You should also contact a doctor or the nurse advice line if you do not improve as expected. A severe strain may need medical treatment. If your symptoms are changing or you are unsure how serious the injury is, medical advice can help determine the next step.
What does physiotherapy add?
Physiotherapy adds an assessment of how the injury happened, how you move and how strong the leg is, followed by rehabilitation matched to your activity. It does not rely on a promised date for recovery.
At Physio 1 Airdrie, the sports injury approach considers your sport, training load and injury details. Treatment may include exercise-based rehabilitation, hands-on therapy, load education and sport-specific return-to-play progressions. The plan is reviewed as you progress.
| Focus | What it considers |
|---|---|
| Assessment | How the injury happened, movement, strength, sport and training load |
| Rehabilitation | Exercise-based work, hands-on therapy and load education |
| Return to sport | Sport-specific progressions and changes based on your progress |
You can review the clinic’s sports injury physiotherapy service to see how this type of assessment is organized.
How do you return to sport?
Return to sport should be gradual and criteria-based, not tied to a fixed date. Your progress, strength, movement and sport demands help determine the next stage.
A physiotherapist can build sport-specific return-to-play progressions. These may reflect the running, changes of direction or other demands of your activity without assuming that every hamstring injury follows the same path. The plan can be reviewed as your capacity changes. For related guidance, read the clinic's sports return-to-play progression article.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a doctor’s referral for hamstring injury physiotherapy?
No. The College of Physiotherapists of Alberta says you do not need a doctor’s referral to see a physiotherapist, although some benefit plans ask for one. Call a doctor or 811 now instead if you have severe or increasing pain, tingling, weakness, numbness or cannot move the leg.
Should I stretch a hamstring strain?
Not straight away unless a clinician tells you to. MyHealth Alberta says you will be told when to start rehab exercises and which ones suit you, to start each one slowly, and to ease off if pain starts. A physiotherapy assessment can match exercises to your movement, strength and symptoms.
How long does hamstring injury physiotherapy take?
There is no set timeline for every hamstring injury. It depends on the injury, your movement and strength, your training load and your sport. Physio 1 Airdrie reviews the plan as you progress and uses gradual, sport-specific steps rather than promising a recovery date.
What does a hamstring injury assessment involve?
At Physio 1 Airdrie, the physiotherapist asks about your sport, training load and how the injury happened, then assesses your movement and strength and the demands of your activity. The plan may include exercise-based rehabilitation, hands-on therapy, education on load and sport-specific return-to-play progressions.
Can I keep training with a hamstring strain?
Not at your usual level straight away. MyHealth Alberta advises avoiding anything that makes the pain worse and returning to your usual activity slowly. A physiotherapist can assess your movement and strength, look at your training load and plan gradual, sport-specific steps back to full training.
For the next step, review Physio 1 Airdrie’s sports injury physiotherapy service and use the clinic’s before-your-visit information to prepare for an assessment.
This article is educational and does not replace an assessment, diagnosis or advice from a qualified healthcare professional.
