Hamstringing

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Hamstringing is a method of crippling a person or animal so that they cannot walk properly by severing the hamstring tendons in the thigh of the individual. It is used as a method of torture, or to incapacitate the victim.

Contents

Use

Hamstringing is used primarily to incapacitate a human or animal and render them incapable of effective movement. The severing of the hamstring muscles results not only in the crippling of the leg, but also in pain. [1]

Method

In humans, the hamstring extends between the hip and knee joints. The hamstring muscle group is made up of the biceps femoris, semitendinosus muscle, and the semimembranosus. [2] It facilitates both the flexing of the knee and hip extension, [3] making it a vital contributor to normal leg-movement. By severing these muscles or the tendons involved in this process, normal leg-movement is disrupted. In addition to sustaining massive bleeding, the injured leg becomes useless and the victim is rendered lame. The severing of the hamstring is usually accomplished through use of a blade such as a knife or sword.

Medical treatment

Due to a lack of research in the field of critical hamstring injuries, current injury-management practice is quite limited. [4] Management of the injury is based solely "on clinical experience, anecdotal evidence and the knowledge of the biological basis of tissue repair". [2] These injuries are difficult to control or repair, leading often to permanent injury or even death by exsanguination.

Historical usage

Sources from late antiquity indicate that hamstringing was commonly used to incapacitate combatants, prisoners and runaway slaves. [5] The French Code Noir (1685) prescribed hamstringing as the punishment for slaves caught escaping for a second time.

Use as metaphor

Literally, to "hamstring" an individual is to sever the tissues of their hamstring. As a metaphor, to be "hamstrung" suggests being limited, by external imposition or not, in a way that prevents full freedom of movement or utilization of resources. [6]

Biblical reference

Rendering chariot-horses lame by hamstringing is mentioned in the Book of Joshua in the Bible (the King James Version uses the term "houghing", [7] from an old spelling of hock). In times of war, hamstringing an enemy's horses prevented the horses from being used in fighting.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human leg</span> Lower extremity or limb of the human body (foot, lower leg, thigh and hip)

The human leg is the entire lower limb of the human body, including the foot, thigh or sometimes even the hip or buttock region. The major bones of the leg are the femur, tibia, and adjacent fibula. The thigh is between the hip and knee, while the calf (rear) and shin (front) are between the knee and foot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knee</span> Region around the kneecap

In humans and other primates, the knee joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two joints: one between the femur and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body. The knee is a modified hinge joint, which permits flexion and extension as well as slight internal and external rotation. The knee is vulnerable to injury and to the development of osteoarthritis.

In human anatomy, a hamstring is any one of the three posterior thigh muscles in between the hip and the knee. The hamstrings are susceptible to injury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thigh</span> Area between the pelvis and the knee; upper leg

In human anatomy, the thigh is the area between the hip (pelvis) and the knee. Anatomically, it is part of the lower limb.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tendinopathy</span> Inflammation of the tendon

Tendinopathy is a type of tendon disorder that results in pain, swelling, and impaired function. The pain is typically worse with movement. It most commonly occurs around the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, or ankle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anterior cruciate ligament</span> Type of cruciate ligament in the human knee

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of a pair of cruciate ligaments in the human knee. The two ligaments are also called "cruciform" ligaments, as they are arranged in a crossed formation. In the quadruped stifle joint, based on its anatomical position, it is also referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament. The term cruciate translates to cross. This name is fitting because the ACL crosses the posterior cruciate ligament to form an “X”. It is composed of strong, fibrous material and assists in controlling excessive motion. This is done by limiting mobility of the joint. The anterior cruciate ligament is one of the four main ligaments of the knee, providing 85% of the restraining force to anterior tibial displacement at 30 and 90° of knee flexion. The ACL is the most injured ligament of the four located in the knee.

A soft tissue injury is the damage of muscles, ligaments and tendons throughout the body. Common soft tissue injuries usually occur from a sprain, strain, a one-off blow resulting in a contusion or overuse of a particular part of the body. Soft tissue injuries can result in pain, swelling, bruising and loss of function.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bowed tendon</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strain (injury)</span> Injury due to slight tearing of a muscle or tendon

A strain is an acute or chronic soft tissue injury that occurs to a muscle, tendon, or both. The equivalent injury to a ligament is a sprain. Generally, the muscle or tendon overstretches and partially tears, under more physical stress than it can withstand, often from a sudden increase in duration, intensity, or frequency of an activity. Strains most commonly occur in the foot, leg, or back. Immediate treatment typically includes five steps abbreviated as P.R.I.C.E.: protection, rest, ice, compression, elevation.

The rectus femoris muscle is one of the four quadriceps muscles of the human body. The others are the vastus medialis, the vastus intermedius, and the vastus lateralis. All four parts of the quadriceps muscle attach to the patella by the quadriceps tendon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snapping hip syndrome</span> Medical condition

Snapping hip syndrome, also referred to as dancer's hip, is a medical condition characterized by a snapping sensation felt when the hip is flexed and extended. This may be accompanied by a snapping or popping noise and pain or discomfort. Pain often decreases with rest and diminished activity. Snapping hip syndrome is commonly classified by the location of the snapping as either extra-articular or intra-articular.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anterior cruciate ligament injury</span> Ligament injury near the knee

An anterior cruciate ligament injury occurs when the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is either stretched, partially torn, or completely torn. The most common injury is a complete tear. Symptoms include pain, an audible cracking sound during injury, instability of the knee, and joint swelling. Swelling generally appears within a couple of hours. In approximately 50% of cases, other structures of the knee such as surrounding ligaments, cartilage, or meniscus are damaged.

Lameness is an abnormal gait or stance of an animal that is the result of dysfunction of the locomotor system. In the horse, it is most commonly caused by pain, but can be due to neurologic or mechanical dysfunction. Lameness is a common veterinary problem in racehorses, sport horses, and pleasure horses. It is one of the most costly health problems for the equine industry, both monetarily for the cost of diagnosis and treatment, and for the cost of time off resulting in loss-of-use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pulled hamstring</span> Medical condition

Straining of the hamstring, also known as a pulled hamstring, is defined as an excessive stretch or tear of muscle fibers and related tissues. Hamstring injuries are common in athletes participating in many sports. Track and field athletes are particularly at risk, as hamstring injuries have been estimated to make up 29% of all injuries in sprinters. Hamstring injuries can also come with a hip injury from sprinting. Symptoms for a hip injury are pain, aching and discomfort while running or any physical exercise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Musculoskeletal injury</span> Medical condition

Musculoskeletal injury refers to damage of muscular or skeletal systems, which is usually due to a strenuous activity and includes damage to skeletal muscles, bones, tendons, joints, ligaments, and other affected soft tissues. In one study, roughly 25% of approximately 6300 adults received a musculoskeletal injury of some sort within 12 months—of which 83% were activity-related. Musculoskeletal injury spans into a large variety of medical specialties including orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, emergency medicine and rheumatology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knee pain</span> Medical condition

Knee pain is pain in or around the knee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Limbs of the horse</span> Structures made of bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments

Good conformation in the limbs leads to improved movement and decreased likelihood of injuries. Large differences in bone structure and size can be found in horses used for different activities, but correct conformation remains relatively similar across the spectrum. Structural defects, as well as other problems such as injuries and infections, can cause lameness, or movement at an abnormal gait. Injuries to and problems with horse legs can be relatively minor, such as stocking up, which causes swelling without lameness, or quite serious. Even leg injuries that are not immediately fatal may still be life-threatening to horses, as their bodies are adapted to bear weight on all four legs and serious problems can result if this is not possible.

References

  1. Heiderscheit, Bryan C.; Sherry, Marc A.; Silder, Amy; Chumanov, Elizabeth S.; Thelen, Darryl G. (February 2010). "Hamstring Strain Injuries: Recommendations for Diagnosis, Rehabilitation and Injury Prevention". J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 40 (2): 67–81. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2010.3047 . PMC   2867336 . PMID   20118524.
  2. 1 2 Hoskins, Wayne; Pollard, Henry (2005). "Hamstring injury management—Part 2: Treatment". Manual Therapy. 10 (3): 180–190. doi:10.1016/j.math.2005.05.001. PMID   15993642.
  3. Brughelli, Matt. (2011)
  4. D'Alessandro, P; Wake, G; Annear, P (2012). "Hamstring pain and muscle strains following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a prospective, randomized trial comparing hamstring graft harvest techniques". J Knee Surg. 26 (2): 139–44. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1324811. PMID   23288753.
  5. Ammianus Marcellinus. "The Roman History of Ammianus Marcellinus".
  6. "Online Etymology Dictionary". Etymonline.com. Retrieved 2014-08-04.
  7. Book of Joshua, Chapter 11, Verse 9 (King James Version) - "And Joshua did unto them as the Lord bade him: he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire."