Hamstring strain injuries: are we heading in the right direction?

• Published in: British journal of sports medicine Vol. 46; no. 2; pp. 81 - 85
• Main Authors: Mendiguchia, Jurdan, Alentorn-Geli, Eduard, Brughelli, Matt
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine 01.02.2012; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Publishing Group
• Subjects: Athletic Injuries - etiology; Athletic Injuries - prevention & control; Fatigue - complications; Humans; Leg Injuries - etiology; Leg Injuries - prevention & control; Muscle Strength - physiology; Muscle, Skeletal - injuries; Muscular system; Prevention; Recurrence; Risk Factors; Sports injuries; Sports medicine; Sprains and Strains - etiology; Sprains and Strains - prevention & control; Thigh - injuries
• ISSN: 0306-3674; 1473-0480
• DOI: 10.1136/bjsm.2010.081695

Acute hamstring injuries are the most prevalent muscle injuries reported in sport. Despite a thorough and concentrated effort to prevent and rehabilitate hamstring injuries, injury occurrence and re-injury rates have not improved over the last three decades. This failure is most likely due to the following: (1) a lack of studies with high level of evidence into the identification and prevention of hamstring injuries and (2) a reductionist approach of the current literature. The objectives of this article are to review and critique the current literature regarding isolated risk factors, and introduce a new concept for a more comprehensive scientific understanding of how multiple risk factors contribute to hamstring strain injury. The authors hope that this new conceptual model can serve as a foundation for future evidence-based research and aid in the development of new prevention methods to decrease the high incidence of this type of injury.