Hamstringing is a method of Cripple a person or animal so that they cannot walk properly by severing the hamstring tendons in the thigh. It is used both as a swordfighting strike to incapacitate an enemy combatant, and as a method to torture the victim.
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.
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.
It facilitates both the flexing of the knee and hip extension,
[ Brughelli, Matt. (2011)] 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
Limp. 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.
Management of the injury is based solely "on clinical experience, anecdotal evidence and the knowledge of the biological basis of tissue repair".
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.
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.
Biblical reference
Rendering
chariot-
lame by hamstringing is mentioned in the Book of Joshua in the
Bible (the King James Version uses the term "",
[ 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."] from an old spelling of
hock). In times of war, hamstringing an enemy's horses prevented the horses from being used in fighting.
