
The hamstring muscles are located at the back of the thigh, starting at the bottom of the pelvis and ending at the lower leg. They are used for walking, climbing stairs, squatting and many other leg movements. Hamstring injuries are common, especially in athletes that run and sprint.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Back of the thigh |
| Number of muscles | Three |
| Type of muscle | Skeletal |
| Function | Walking, climbing stairs, doing squats and performing other leg movements |
| Susceptibility to injury | Very susceptible, especially in athletes that run and sprint |
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What You'll Learn
- Hamstring muscles are located at the back of the thigh
- They start at the bottom of the pelvis and end at the lower leg
- They are used for walking, climbing stairs, squatting and other leg movements
- Hamstring injuries are common, especially in athletes that run and sprint
- They are skeletal muscles that you can control

Hamstring muscles are located at the back of the thigh
The hamstring muscles are located at the back of the thigh. There are three of them, and they are skeletal muscles. They are voluntary muscles, meaning you control how they move and work. They are used for walking, climbing stairs, doing squats and performing many other leg movements. They start at the bottom of the pelvis at a place called the ischial tuberosity, cross the knee joint and end at the lower leg. They are very susceptible to injury, especially in athletes that run and sprint. Suddenly stopping, slowing down or changing direction puts a lot of strain on these muscles. Extending your leg when running can also overstretch them. A hamstring injury is often called a 'pulled hamstring'. To avoid injuring your hamstrings, you should stretch, warm up and not push through pain in your hip, knee and leg.
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They start at the bottom of the pelvis and end at the lower leg
Your hamstring muscles are skeletal muscles at the back of your thigh. They start at the bottom of the pelvis, at a place called the ischial tuberosity, and end at the lower leg. They cross the knee joint and hamstring tendons attach them to bones in your pelvis, knee and lower leg.
You have three hamstring muscles and they are used to walk, climb stairs, do squats and perform many other leg movements. They are also used to extend the hip and flex the knee. The hamstrings play an important part in the complex gait cycle during walking, which includes the absorption of kinetic energy and protection of the knee and hip joints.
Hamstring muscles are very susceptible to injury, especially in athletes that run and sprint. This is because suddenly stopping, slowing down or changing direction puts a lot of strain on these muscles. Extending your leg when running can also overstretch these muscles. A hamstring injury is often called a 'pulled hamstring'.
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They are used for walking, climbing stairs, squatting and other leg movements
Your hamstring muscles are skeletal muscles at the back of your thigh. They start at the bottom of the pelvis and cross the knee joint, ending at the lower leg.
Hamstring muscles are used for walking, climbing stairs, squatting and other leg movements. They are also used to extend the hip and flex the knee. During walking, the hamstrings absorb kinetic energy and protect the knee and hip joints.
Hamstring muscles are very susceptible to injury, especially in athletes who run and sprint. This is because suddenly stopping, slowing down or changing direction puts a lot of strain on these muscles. Extending your leg when running can also overstretch them. A hamstring injury is often called a 'pulled hamstring'.
To avoid injuring your hamstrings, it is important to stretch and warm up before exercising. You should also be careful not to push through pain in your hip, knee and leg.
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Hamstring injuries are common, especially in athletes that run and sprint
The hamstrings are used for many leg movements, including walking, climbing stairs and doing squats. They are also important for the complex gait cycle during walking, which includes absorbing kinetic energy and protecting the knee and hip joints. Because of their role in so many movements, they are very susceptible to injury, especially in athletes that run and sprint. Suddenly stopping, slowing down or changing direction puts a lot of strain on these muscles. Extending your leg when running can also overstretch them.
To avoid hamstring injuries, it is important to stretch and warm up before exercising. It is also important not to push through pain in your hip, knee and leg.
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They are skeletal muscles that you can control
Your hamstring muscles are skeletal muscles at the back of your thigh. They are voluntary muscles, meaning you control how they move and work. You use them to walk, climb stairs, do squats and perform many other leg movements. They start at the bottom of the pelvis at a place called the ischial tuberosity, cross the knee joint and end at the lower leg. The hamstring tendons attach them to bones in your pelvis, knee and lower leg.
The hamstrings are muscles which extend the hip and flex the knee. They play an important part in the complex gait cycle during walking, which includes the absorption of kinetic energy and protection of the knee and hip joints. Hamstring injuries are the most common sports injury. They are particularly susceptible to injury in athletes that run and sprint. Suddenly stopping, slowing down or changing direction puts a lot of strain on these muscles. Extending your leg when running can also overstretch them. A hamstring injury is often called a 'pulled hamstring'.
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Frequently asked questions
Your hamstring muscles are located at the back of your thigh.
Your hamstring muscles are used to walk, climb stairs, do squats and perform many other leg movements. They also play an important part in the complex gait cycle during walking, which includes absorption of kinetic energy and protection of the knee and hip joints.
Hamstring injuries are the most common sports injury. Stretching, warming up and not pushing through pain in your hip, knee and leg are the best ways to avoid injuring your hamstrings.










































