When I stretch my hamstrings, what is the feeling behind my knee?
5 min read
Asked by: Eddie Jiles
Can hamstring pain be felt behind the knee?
Each originates at the bottom of the pelvis, run down the back of the thigh and across the back of the knee joint, and inserts on the upper leg bone. When the hamstring tendons that cross the knee joint are strained, pain in the back of the knee is felt.
Why do the back of my knees hurt when I stretch my hamstrings?
A hamstring strain happens when the muscle is stretched too far. The muscle can completely tear, which can take months to heal. When you injure your hamstring muscle, you’ll feel a sudden pain. Injuries to the biceps femoris — called biceps femoris tendinopathy — cause pain in the back of the knee.
Why does the back of my knee feel weird when I stretch?
Hyperextension – this is what happens if your knee joint bends too far backwards, usually as a result of sporting damage when the knee over-straightens. Hyperextension often causes instability and at least some pain or discomfort towards the back of the knee.
What does tightness behind the knee mean?
Osteoarthritis is a common cause of pain behind the knee. Typically, arthritis causes bone spurs leading to inflammation at the back of the knee. Often, you feel tight and restricted in the movement of the knee joint. Generally, the best form of treatment for knee arthritis is exercise and load management.
How do you loosen a hamstring behind your knee?
Stretches to loosen tight hamstrings
- Lie down on the ground with your back flat and your feet on the ground, knees bent.
- Slowly bring your right knee to your chest.
- Extend the leg while keeping the knee slightly bent. …
- Hold for 10 seconds and work up to 30 seconds.
Where should you feel hamstring stretch?
In performing this stretch, you should achieve a strong stretch in the muscle belly of the hamstring muscles, in the middle of the back of your thigh – rather than behind the knee, as you would most likely feel when the sciatic nerve is targeted.
What is the tendon behind your knee?
In the knee, the quadriceps tendon joins the thigh to the kneecap (patella) while the patellar tendon joins the kneecap to the tibia (shinbone). Any of these muscles and tendons can be injured.
What are the symptoms of tight hamstrings?
Tight hamstring symptoms are pretty unmistakable. Soreness or stiffness in the back of your leg is the most common. When you tie your shoes or try to touch your toes is the most common culprit. Stretching will help avoid strains and muscle tears but simple stretches can help and avoid prolonged sitting.
Why does it feel good when I stretch my hamstrings?
Stretching tends to feel good because it activates your parasympathetic nervous system and increases blood flow to your muscles. It’s thought that stretching may also release endorphins that help to reduce pain and enhance your mood.
What is the area behind the knee called?
Popliteal Fossa
The Popliteal Fossa is a diamond-shaped space behind the knee joint. It is formed between the muscles in the posterior compartments of the thigh and leg.
What does it mean when the back of your leg hurts behind the knee NHS?
A Baker’s cyst, also called a popliteal cyst, is a fluid-filled swelling that develops at the back of the knee. Credit: It’s caused when the tissue behind the knee joint becomes swollen and inflamed.
How do I fix the pain behind my knee?
Rest, ice, compression, and elevation
If you have sudden, intense pain in the back of your knee, the doctor may recommend that you rest and apply ice to your knee. In some cases, your doctor may also ask you to elevate (prop up) your leg while you’re sitting down to help improve the blood flow in your leg.
What muscles are behind the knee?
This is a group of 3 muscles (biceps femoris, semimembranosus, and semitendinosis) located on the back of the thigh and knee joint. When activated these muscles act to bend the knee.
What does a torn ligament behind the knee feel like?
Pain, often sudden and severe. A loud pop or snap during the injury. Swelling within the first 24 hours after the injury. A feeling of looseness in the joint.
Should I be worried about pain behind knee?
Pain behind the knee is a common issue that can affect people of all ages. It may result from a physical injury, such as a torn ligament or cartilage. However, arthritis, infections, gout, and other conditions can also cause this type of pain.
Can sciatic nerve cause pain behind the knee?
Can sciatica cause pain in your knee? Yes. Your sciatic nerve is actually five separate nerves that pass through your spine, into your buttocks, and then travel down the back of each leg through your knee.
What causes pain behind the knee and down the calf?
Deep vein thrombosis, tendonitis, muscle spasm, and a Baker’s cyst are some of the reasons of discomfort below or behind the knee and calf. Although these are frequent illnesses that might cause discomfort, other medical disorders can also cause discomfort in certain areas of the legs.
Why does the muscle behind my knee hurt?
Injury. Damage to a muscle, tendon, ligament, or other connective tissue could cause posterior knee pain. Such injuries can be acute or caused by overuse. Hamstring injuries, meniscus tears, and injuries to the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) are three injuries that may cause pain in the back of the knee.
