Health Tip: Straining a Hamstring

(HealthDay News) -- Hamstrings, muscles in the back of the thighs, are frequently strained in athletes who do a lot of sprinting -- such as those who play track, soccer or basketball.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says knowing the risk factors for pulled hamstrings can help prevent them. Here's the academy's list:

• Having tight muscles that aren't properly stretched.

• Having strong quadriceps and weaker hamstrings.

• Having weak, poorly conditioned muscles.

• Exercising or playing sports when muscles are fatigued.