How to treat a hamstring injury?

[fernhollow]

Could someone please tell me what your vet recommended or how you treated it? What were their sympyoms? Once it is injured, does it recur often? Thank you.

[louis finochio]

Paint the hamstring with DMSO, then put the ice boots on for 30 min. Keep this routine up, until the hamstring is healed. You can purchase DMSO from your tack shop.

[AVA]

Has the actual tendon of the hamstring muscle been injured or just a muscles tear or pull. Tendons hold muscles to bone, and ligaments hold bone to bones. If it is the actual tendon the above tx sound good but you can also after the acute phase is over give it a couple of days trying cold hosing from the hock UPWARDS, never hose a leg down because you are pushing extra inflammatory fluid down the leg and it's very hard to get it back up the leg. You can also try massage therapy - does WONDERS for hamstring injuries. Starting at strong tendon above the hock push with the pressure your horse can handle upwards and do this for a good 15 min then all over the glutes (big butt muscles) try to hit the lymp areas on and around the medial aspect of the horses leg - running your hand up (pushing rather to the inside of the hoses 'thigh'. There are lots of lymph glands here and it will help get rid of any inflammation. Of course be careful to never massage with DMSO on - stupid statement but had to be said and don't try to massage a wet leg. I am a reg. Equine Massage Therapist and this would be my tx. Just another opinion.
good luck and if you have any questions email me at: [email protected]

*lymph areas are best just above the stifle and definetly push to the inner thigh* If your horse hates this try pushing from the other side mid tail bone and you will feel a strong muscles on the inner thigh - gracilis move fwd to the flatter region and you have your lymph centre. Some horses are just way too sensitive for this so be very careful not to get kicked.

[Tucumcari]

I have come across a likely not so new (although new to me) topical gel. It has made a real difference in a couple of nagging hind end problems as well as others, but the improvement in the hind ends is particularly exciting to me. MSM gel. Doesn't smell, tingle, nothing. But it SEEMS to really be effective!! Might help with the hamstrings.