Located behind the thigh, the hamstrings are a group of muscles associated with the movement of the hip and knee joints. Athletes participating in sports such as soccer, basketball and tennis or other activities involving sprinting are more prone to hamstring injuries, reports the Mayo Clinic.

A muscle tear, as defined by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, is a medical condition that is graded according to its severity. When you push yourself further than your body is accustomed to, you may feel your muscles protest as it pulls away from your tendons.