How to cure a hamstring stretch which occurred during gymnastics in an 8-year-old?

Question

Hello doctor,

My 8-year-old daughter pulled a muscle in the left-hand side of her back and top of her buttocks earlier this year during her gymnastics. She has fully recovered from that injury now, but ever since, she has been having problems with stretching her hamstring on her left leg. She gets slight pain and discomfort behind her left knee. I have tried helping her stretch her bent knee, but she can not feel any stretch in her hamstring even when her knee is practically touching the floor next to her head. When slowly straightening her leg in this position in the first place, she feels a stretch behind her knee. Any advice on what is causing it and what I can do to help would be appreciated.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

In my opinion, you should slowly adapt her to stretching her hamstring with a straight knee. You should also try to stretch her calf muscles without bending the knee. During her hamstring injury, she would have strained her calf muscles as well. Now they need to regain the length. I recommend you apply ice at the pain site frequently and stretch. Cobra stretch will help her regain back mobility. Kindly revert back to me in case you need to know any further clarification required in this regard.

Thank you.