Actor Park Sung-woong suffered a hamstring injury during filming

A production briefing session for the movie "The Desperate Chase" was recently held at CGV Yongsan, Seoul. Park revealed that he had torn his hamstring. He said, "While filming in the winter, my hamstring snapped, and I limped through the scenes. The problem occurred because my body wasn't properly warmed up."

He added, "Even a visit to the emergency room couldn’t fix my legs. The doctor said that time heals all wounds with patience. My body was worn out, but the movie was able to shine."

intensive activity can cause hamstring injuries

Hamstring tears are common among athletes. Soccer players like Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan have also experienced hamstring injuries. However, people like Park Sung-woong, who push their bodies hard during activities such as filming, are also prone to injury. The hamstring is typically located in the back of the thigh and consists of long muscles and tendons, such as the biceps femoris and semitendinosus. It affects the hip and knee joints, making walking and running difficult when damaged.

The hamstring contracts when running, jumping, or bending the knee, and relaxes when the knee is straightened. Sudden, intense force on the hamstring can cause it to tear as the muscle rapidly elongates. Actions like sudden starts, deceleration, shooting, and changing directions place significant stress on the hamstring.

The importance of warming up to prevent hamstring injuries

As Park Sung-woong described, a hamstring tear feels like a snap, accompanied by sharp pain in the back of the thigh. The thigh may be swollen or bruised. Muscle cramps and a loss of strength can make walking difficult. It's crucial to quickly visit a hospital to assess the injury with ultrasound or MRI.

If the injury is severe, non-surgical treatments such as medication, injections, or extracorporeal shock wave therapy, and rehabilitation may be necessary. Recovery time varies per patient but requires at least a week of rest, potentially extending to 2-3 months. If these treatments are ineffective or the injury recurs frequently, surgery might be needed. Hamstring tears are prone to recurrence because once injured, complete healing is challenging, making the area susceptible to further damage.

To prevent hamstring tears, it's important to perform adequate warm-ups before exercise. Avoid sudden speed training or exercises that involve bending the waist without preparation. Stretching exercises that gently relax the knee joints and muscles before activity are helpful. Standing stretches, such as placing one foot forward and bending at the waist, or placing a foot on a chair or step and bending forward, are beneficial.