Dr. Niv Marom, a senior surgeon in the sports unit at Meir Medical Center, explains that injuries to the thigh muscles are essentially injuries to the hamstring muscle group, which are the knee flexor muscles. Common injuries include partial or complete ruptures of the connection between the tendon and the muscle, or an injury to the muscle itself, which are considered minor. In more serious cases, surgery may be required if the injury is to the tendon or its connection to the bone. However, if the injury is in the area between the tendon and the muscle, surgery may not be necessary.
Pain from such injuries can occur due to muscle activation and contraction during movements like bending the knee or stretching the muscle. Basketball players may notice this pain during actions such as running, diving, and landing. Treatment for these injuries primarily involves physiotherapy, anti-inflammatory medication, and rest. Physical therapy focuses on strengthening the injured muscle and nearby muscles, while anti-inflammatory pills and cold compresses can help reduce pain and swelling.
For athletes, biological injections like Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) may be used to speed up recovery, although their effectiveness is not definitively proven. Dr. Marom cautions against returning to activity too soon, as scar tissue forms during the initial recovery period and premature activity can increase the risk of re-injury. He recommends taking a longer break from activity to allow tissues to heal properly.
To prevent sports injuries, Dr. Marom stresses the importance of warming up before activity and performing relevant stretches to maintain flexibility in leg muscles and tendons. It is also essential to strengthen muscles around pelvis, hips, knees to reduce risk of injury