hamstring
Disable from behind
The hamstrings are the three muscles running along the back of the thigh, connecting the hip to the knee.
Athletes commonly strain or tear them: She pulled her hamstring in the second quarter.
To hamstring someone or something is to cripple or severely hinder effectiveness: Budget cuts hamstrung the investigation.
The verb comes from the old practice of disabling animals or enemies by cutting these tendons.
Severely impair function
- undermineWeaken by stealth
- sabotageDeliberate disruption of operations
- impairTo diminish or damage
- obstructBlock or hinder passage
thwart · handicap · stymie · weaken · hobble · paralyze · incapacitate · limit
To pull apart
- strainExcessive stretching force
- pullForce toward oneself
- ruptureViolent tearing apart
- sprainLigament stretch injury
swelling · bruising · inflammation · pain · ache · trauma · overstretch · pop
Muscle-to-bone connector
- quadricepsFour-part thigh muscle
- gluteus maximusPrimary posterior hip muscle
- adductorsMuscles that pull inward
- gastrocnemiusPrimary calf muscle
hip joint · knee joint · flexion · extension · muscle fiber · popliteal · skeletal muscle · connective tissue
Maximum-speed locomotion on foot
- footballField sport with goals
- soccerField sport with goals
- runningSwift foot travel
- trackPath or monitored route
hurdles · basketball · gymnastics · jumping · kicking · acceleration · athlete · sideline
Rehabilitative movement-based medical care
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- stretchingExtending muscles or material
- massageSoft tissue manipulation
- iceWater's solid form
compression · rest · healing · strengthening · mobility · range of motion · ultrasound · exercise
cripple
Severely impair function
obstruct · thwart · handicap · stymie · weaken · hobble · paralyze · incapacitate · limit · restrict
tear
To pull apart
sprain · swelling · bruising · inflammation · pain · ache · trauma · overstretch · pop · grade one
tendon
Muscle-to-bone connector
- quadricepsFour-part thigh muscle
- gluteus maximusPrimary posterior hip muscle
- adductorsMuscles that pull inward
gastrocnemius · hip joint · knee joint · flexion · extension · muscle fiber · popliteal · skeletal muscle · connective tissue · insertion
sprinting
Maximum-speed locomotion on foot
track · hurdles · basketball · gymnastics · jumping · kicking · acceleration · athlete · sideline · bench
physical therapy
Rehabilitative movement-based medical care
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- stretchingExtending muscles or material
- massageSoft tissue manipulation
ice · compression · rest · healing · strengthening · mobility · range of motion · ultrasound · exercise · gradual return
susceptible
Easily influenced or harmed
fragile · exposed · precarious · sensitive · delicate · instability · imbalance · tightness · overuse · fatigue
hamstringenable
Make something feasible
empower · strengthen · facilitate · fortify · equip
hamstringinvigorate
To fill with energy
energize · vitalize · revitalize · strengthen · fortify
- pulled hamstringTorn rear thigh muscle
- hamstring injuryTorn posterior thigh muscle
- hamstring stretchRear thigh flexibility exercise
- hamstring tearRipped posterior thigh muscle
- hamstring strainTorn posterior thigh muscle
- hamstring pullTorn posterior thigh muscle