Hamstring Muscle Injuries, a Rehabilitation Protocol Purpose

Abstract

Context:

Hamstring acute muscle injuries are prevalent in several sports including AFL football (Australian Football League), sprinting and soccer, and are often associated with prolonged time away from sport.

Evidence Acquisition:

In response to this, research into prevention and management of hamstring injury has increased, but epidemiological data shows no decline in injury and re-injury rates, suggesting that rehabilitation programs and return to play (RTP) criteria have to be improved. There continues to be a lack of consensus regarding how to assess performance, recovery and readiness to RTP, following hamstring strain injury.

Results:

The aim of this paper was to propose rehabilitation protocol for hamstring muscle injuries based on current basic science and research knowledge regarding injury demographics and management options.

Conclusions:

Criteria-based (subjective and objective) progression through the rehabilitation program will be outlined along with exercises for each phase, from initial injury to RTP.

1. Context

Muscle injuries are among the most prevalent time-loss sports injuries and most are caused by over-strain or contusion (1). The thigh is the most common muscle site injured in soccer (2) and several other sports (3-6). Hamstring muscle injuries (HMIs) are the most prevalent muscle injury in soccer (2), Australian football (5), American football (4), and track and field (6). In soccer, a player suffers on average 0.6 muscle injuries per season, 92% located in lower limbs and 37% affecting hamstrings with a mean absence of 14.3 ± 14.9 days and a re-injury rate of 16% which causes a longer absence (2). In this study, HMIs refer to indirect over-strain; as direct hamstring muscle contusions are rare.

There is developing research into hamstrings injuries, investigating injury rates, risk factors, as well as prevention and rehabilitation programs (7, 8). Despite this research focus, hamstring injury and re-injury rates remain high in many sports (2, 8-11). A potential reason for high recurrence rates is failure of rehabilitation programs and poorly defined return to play (RTP) criteria (12).

Most recent rehabilitation protocols for HMIs incorporate goals to achieve in each phase, objective and subjective criteria to progress between phases (13), and combine different types of therapeutic exercises to not only work locally on the scar, but also look to improve capabilities like control of the lumbopelvic region (14). Most protocols lack consensus about key points like strength evaluation (how to evaluate it, positions, angles, the amount of strength and type necessary to progress between phases or for RTP) (12-14).

In our opinion a rehabilitation protocol should be based on the current available evidence (13). Knowledge about the injury including tissue healing, risk factors and rehabilitation, and clinical experience is valuable to bridge gaps in literature. The aim of this review is to describe an evidence-driven rehabilitation protocol for HMIs.

Figure 1. Rehabilitation Protocol Design Basis; RHB, Rehabilitation.

1.1. Muscle Injury Biology

Muscle healing is characterised by a reparative process (1) that involves formation of a scar (15). The scar tissue formation has been observed from 6 weeks (16) until 23 months (17) after the injury. Skeletal muscle healing is divided into three phases: destruction, repair and remodelling (18). The destruction phase involves myofibres rupture and necrosis, haematoma formation and initiation of an inflammatory reaction. The repair phase is characterised by phagocytosis, connective tissue production, and subsequently revascularisation. In the remodelling phase there is scar organisation, neo-myofibres maturation and the recovery of the functional capacities, with a new myotendinous junction (MTJ) between the repaired myofibres (17-19). The optimal healing process is characterised by stimulating regeneration and minimizing reparation, to minimise the size of the scar.

1.2. Hamstrings Anatomy and Function

The muscles most commonly injured in sport are the hamstrings, rectus femoris and medial head of the gastrocnemius, all primarily biarticular muscles with high proportion of fast-twitch fibers and complex architecture (2). The semimembranosus (SM), semitendinosus (ST), and biceps femoris long head (BFlh) are biarticular, whereas biceps femoris short head (BFsh) is mono-articular. Hamstrings cross over two joints to allow simultaneous knee flexion and hip extension. This biarticular anatomy sometimes means that the hamstring muscles are stressed heavily over two joints simultaneously, as in contracting eccentrically at the hip and knee while lengthened in terminal swing phase of running (20, 21). The different nerve supplies of the short (peroneal) and long (tibial) heads of biceps femoris suggests different function and it has been suggested that a lack of coordination during contraction is associated with HMIs (22). Anterior pelvic tilt (23), the proportion of type II fibers, and muscle architecture are other potential anatomical risk factors for sustaining HMIs. As with all musculoskeletal injuries, the aetiology of HMIs is multifactorial; related to function, anatomy and other factors including genes, hamstring strength, etc. and the co-existence of all previous referred factors are the reason to explain hamstrings high injury rate (9).

1.3. Injury Mechanism and Types

Muscle strain injuries are frequently located close to the MTJ (18), or around an intramuscular tendon (24). Hamstring injuries can be divided based on injury mechanism into sprinting or stretching injuries (25). The stretching type occur during movements with combined hip flexion and knee extension, in these cases injuries are most commonly located in the SM proximal MTJ or its free tendon, and the time loss is high (26). The sprinting type occur during running and are typically located on BFlh and the time loss is shorter than in the stretching type (25). Therefore, the mechanism and moment when the injury occurs will help us for the diagnosis. The moment when the injury occurs during running can be allocated in connection with the running phase. The running cycle is divided in the stance and the swing phase (27) and sprinting HMIs have been associated with both late swing (20, 28), and the early stance phase (29). Hamstrings are activated throughout the running cycle with peaks during the terminal swing and early stance (30, 31). During the terminal swing the biarticular hamstrings are lengthening and absorbing energy, producing their peak force, reaching peak strain and performing the highest negative work (21). Hamstring peak length does not vary significantly during running progression from submaximal to maximal velocity (27). On the other hand, force, power and work steadily increase with speed (20, 21, 31, 32).

1.4. Injury Risk Factors

The knowledge about the injury/reinjury risk factors will help in designing therapeutic or preventive programs for it. In the last two years several reviews and a meta-analyses investigating risk factors for HMIs have been published (9, 33-35), trying to increase the knowledge about this point.

A recent meta-analysis identified evidence that age, previous hamstring injury and increased quadriceps peak torque are associated with HMIs (35); about other risk factor including weight, flexibility (hamstrings, hip flexor, quadriceps), ankle ROM, proprioception, ethnicity, other strength measurements (hamstrings peak torque, H: H ratio), playing position, and psychological factors, may be associated but more research is required to confirm an association (35). There are also a considerable number of risk factors showing little correlation, including physical performance (anaerobic fitness, VO2 max., peak O2 uptake, CMJ, standing jump, running speed, maximal average power), anthropometric measures (BMI, height), strength (abdominal strength), dominant limb, slump test, mechanism of injury, player exposure, and more (35). Although not all are modifiable, potential risk factors need to be considered in designing rehabilitation and prevention programs.

1.5. Reinjury Risk Factors

Hamstring reinjury can be due to persisting risk factors, or because some maladaptation secondary to initial HMIs (33-36). Potential maladaptation associated with HMI recurrence includes scar tissue formation, reduced flexibility, strength deficits, selective hamstring atrophy and shifts in the torque-joint angle relationship (36). There is limited evidence supporting these suggestions. Previously injured hamstrings have been suggested to have a larger peak torque angle (i.e. in more knee flexion) (37), but prospective studies are needed to confirm this finding (38). After a HMIs, especially regarding BFlh, several long-lasting maladaptations have been described: a reduced BFlh muscle volume with BFsh hypertrophy 5 - 23 months after the injury (17, 19); eccentric strength deficits, decreased EMG activity (39, 40), and other strength and functional test deficiencies (41). The shift in knee flexion PT angle and the loss in eccentric strength might persist for months or years (42, 43), and it is not known why PT angle or eccentric strength deficits do not normalize after regular training and competing (36). These maladaptations suggest a disturbance in neuromuscular function after HMIs that may not reverse with current rehabilitation protocols or return to normal sport activity (17, 39, 40). Reduced hamstring activation can be a protective mechanism to for the injured muscle, which complicates the rehabilitation process (39).

2. Evidence Acquisition

2.1. Clinical Consideration in Rehabilitating and Therapeutic Options

Several protocols have been published using stretching exercises (44), balance (45), eccentrics exercises (46, 47), or different combinations of exercises (12-14, 48). Despite the multifactorial aetiology of HMIs (9, 49, 50) rehabilitation programs generally focus on just one or few factors. Our purpose is to propose a multi-phase and criteria-based rehabilitation programme with clear objectives and progression criteria in each phase, as in previous rehabilitation protocols (13); but this program will include a core battery of exercises designed to address modifiable potential risk factors for HMIs (51, 52). Criteria to design the exercises are described, therefore, they can be tailored to individual ability and goals, and will be progressed from single joint, low demand to more complex and combined joint movements, until rehabilitation exercises reproduce sport movements and load demands.

Figure 2. Therapeutic Exercises Combination, And Progresion During Phases.

When designing the exercises for each phase it is necessary to follow the criteria described, but also taking into account hamstrings anatomy and function, injury mechanism, type of sport practised for the athlete etc. (53). Exercise parameters that need to be taken into account include contraction type and load, ROM, uni- versus bi-lateral, open versus closed kinetic chain and hip/knee dominant versus multi-joint movements exercise (54, 55). Regardless of the injury severity, progression between phases is based on achieving clear criteria (56), as previously illustrated (12), Table 1.

Table 1. Rehabilitation Protocol Purpose Describing the Criteria to Design the Exercises in Each Phase, the Goals and Test to Progress Between Phases, and RTP Criteria ^a.

	Acute Phase	Subacute Phase	Functional Phase
Exercise design criteria
Proprioception	Start on a stable surface and progress to light instability (soft mat, dynadisk or similar). Knee flexion, start 0° and progress until 30°. Static movement and progress to low unstable dynamic.	Increase instability (bosu, balance board, rocker board or similar). Knee flexion, progress to 45°. Moderate reactive/strength movement. Active and wide movements.	Unstable surface. Knee flexion progress to 90°. Intense strength and reactive movements.
Core	Static exercises on stable surface in frontal, sagittal and transverse planes.	Dynamic exercises in frontal, sagittal and transverse planes from stable surface and progress to one unstable point; unstable elements progressing in instability (soft mat to fitball).	Dynamic exercises on two unstable points. Exercises in standing position reproducing functional movements (acceleration, deceleration, and dynamic stabilization). No limit.
Flexibility and rom	Stretch with ESH ≤ 45, avoiding pain.	Stretch with ESH ≤ 70, avoiding pain.	No limit.
Strength and power	ESH ≤ 45, avoiding pain. Isolated knee flexion or hip extension exercises, progress to combine both actions. When starting CKC exercises, first unipodal and progress to bipodal. In the corresponding ESH star with ISOM, progress to CONC and ECC and progress in muscle length avoiding pain or discomfort.	ESH ≤ 70 avoiding pain. In the corresponding ESH, progress in analytic movements length, velocity and load to the maximum effort; and increase combine movement demands. OKC and CKC uni and bipodal exercises.	No ESH limit. Progress in length, joint velocity, load and complexity. Horizontal strength application exercises.
Neuromuscular and fitness	ESH ≤ 45, avoiding pain. Start on a soft surface and progress to hard (to reduce eccentric contraction). Start walking on treadmill and progress until V max ≤ 8 km/h, 5% slope to decrease ESH	ESH ≤ 70 avoiding pain. Start on a soft surface and progress to hard. Run on treadmill, progress until 70% of athletes maximal speed, 3 % slope to decrease ESH	No ESH limit. On hard surface. Progress until maximal speed, start on flat and progress to negative slope
Goals and test to progress	No pain or discomfort during exercises. To find and maintain a neutral spine position in static (laying, standing or sitting) and during exercises. Isometric knee flexion strength, decubito prono knee flexion 45° and hip 0° > 50% of previous data or uninjured leg (dynamometer or similar). Isometric hip extension strength, decubito supine hip flexion 45° and Knee 0° > 50% of previous data or uninjured leg (dynamometer or similar). Full knee and hip isolated tested ROM	No pain or discomfort during exercises. Not tilting the pelvis or flattening the spine during exercises. Isometric knee flexion strength in decubito supino knee flexion 25° and hip flexion 45°, less than 10% asymmetry from previous data or uninjured leg (dynamometer or similar). Isometric hip extension strength in decubito supino knee 0° and hip flexion 70°, less than 10% asymmetry from previous data or uninjured leg (dynamometer or similar). Less than 10° asymmetry in in AKET Less than 10° asymmetry in the Active Hip Flexion Test. Modified Thomas test > 5 and symmetry below horizontal. Deep squat test (50). Single leg squat (51). Runner pose test (51). In-line lunge test (50).	No pain or discomfort during exercises. Correct spine control and strength transfer during exercises. Integrate strength, neuromuscular and proprioceptive work. Hip strength test in bipedestation knee 0° hip at maximum hip flexion achieved in contralateral leg, no asymmetry (dynamometer or similar). Isokinetic criteria: Differences higher than 20% should be avoided in absolute values. Normal isokinetic ratios No asymmetry in the Active Hip Flexion Test. No asymmetry in AKET
Criteria
Functional Test	A normal week training with the group, without pain, discomfort or "fears". Normal performance by GPS or similar (distances, speeds, accelerations), and HR data (training zones%, etc).
Athlete “psycho”	Full performance feelings and no fear/doubts from player or similar expression to describe a positive feeling from the subject.
Clinical Test	Free pain maximal eccentric knee extension in decubito prono hip 0° knee 90° and moves to 0°; and free pain maximal eccentric hip extension in decubito supine knee 0° hip 0° and moves to 70°.

^aAbbreviations: aKET, active knee extension test; CKC, close kinetic chain; CON, concentric; ECC, eccentric; ESH, elongation stress on hamstrings; HR, heart rate; ISOM, isometric; OKC, open kinetic chain; ROM, range of motion.

Figure 3. Exercise Progression Examples.

Acute phase in first column (five exercises), subacute phase in the second column (four exercises), and functional in the third column.

2.2. Protection-Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation (P-RICE)

Immediately after the injury, compression (57), ice (58) and non-painful movements are encouraged (13, 18), because an early mobilization foments scar healing (collagen penetration and orientation through the scar tissue) (1). The rehabilitation program can be commenced when normal pain free gait is achieved (59).

2.3. Drugs and Biological Therapies

There is no clear evidence regarding the use of medications. (60), cooling (58), or Platelet Rich Plasma (61), but with limited impact on RTP or reinjury statistics. The use of NSAIDs did not modify the outcome for HMIs (60), and is not recommended because its inhibitory effect on satellite cell, macrophages, and protein formation (62). To date, there is no high-level evidence to support the widespread use of platelet-rich plasma (61).

2.4. Elongation Stress on Hamstrings

The concept of elongation stress on hamstrings (ESH) is recently introduced and aims to assess hamstring elongation during exercise and function. This is achieved by subtracting the knee flexion angle from the hip flexion angle (63). Larger positive ESH values are associated with greater hamstring tissue stress (54). Running cycle kinematics can be used to calculate the ESH during late swing or early stance hamstring injury. During running the hip ROM goes from 70° flexion to 45° extension, and from 30° - 130° knee flexion (27, 64).

The hamstrings PT angle is influenced by hip flexion, when hip flexion increase will cause an increase in the PT angle in all muscular contraction (63); and as the same authors recognise, this has to be taken into account when designing the exercises, because to perform strength exercises at long musculotendinous length with a high hip angle can be more efficient preventing injuries because of the shift of PT angle to longer muscle length (54).

Therefore, we can use the ESH as a criterion to objectively monitor hamstrings stretch progression during the rehabilitation and to determine the ROM to work during the different phases and exercises. There is no scientific data to determine ROM progression criteria or goals to achieve between phases. In previous published protocols the goals related to ROM are non-existing (47) or very variable (12-14, 46, 47, 65), Table 2.

Table 2. Range of Motion (ROM) and Strength Criteria for Progression Through Phases in Previous Rehabilitation Protocols Published in the Literature^a.

Study/Goals	Acute Phase	Subacute/Regenerating Phase	Functional Phase
Clanton (65)
ROM	Normal gait	Pain free full AROM	Pain free for sports movements
STR	Generic recommendations
Heiderscheit (13)
ROM	Normal walking stride without pain		Full ROM without pain
STR	Pain free ISOM sub-maximal (50% - 70%) prone knee flexion (67) MST	Full strength (5/5) pain free prone knee flexion (90°) MST	Full strength pain free MST prone knee flexion (90° - 15°). ISOK: Less than 5% bilateral deficit in the ratio ECC-H (30°/s): CONC-Q (240°/s). Bilateral symmetry in CONC knee flexion PT angle at 60°/s
Mendiguchia (12)
ROM		AKE test < 10% asymetry and < 20 MTT > 5 and symmetry below horizontal
STR		Prone knee flexed 15° < 10% asymmetry ISOM strength (DYN)	ISOK: PT angle < 28 during knee flexion 60°/s, asym. < 8 Hip extension strength, ISK hip extension 60°/s < 10 asym.
Schmitt (46)
ROM	Normal walking pain free		Full ROM pain free
STR	Pain free submaximal ISOM contraction (50% - 75%) during prone knee flexion (90°) MST	Strength (5/5) pain free, prone knee flexion (67) MST Asymetry < 20% compared against uninjured limb Pain free max ECC in a non-lengthened state	Full strength without pain in lengthened position. Bilateral symmetry in knee flexion PT angle
Askling (47)
ROM	Progression in load/speed/excursion based on the avoidance of the pain criterion
STR	Progression in load/speed/excursion based on the avoidance of the pain criterion
Silder (14)
ROM	Normal walk, same stride length and stance time on injured and non injured limbs (visually assessed)	Jog FW and BW (same stride length and stance time) on injured/non injured limbs (visually assessed)
STR	A pain-free ISOM contraction at 90° of knee flexion with a MST judged to be at least 4/5	Full strength (5/5 MST) prone at 90° of knee flexion (tibia in neutral/internally and externally rotated)	Full strength (5/5 MST) in various knee positions prone, hip 0° of flexion and knee flexed at 90° and 15°; (tibia in neutral/internally and externally rotated)

^a Abbreviations: AROM, active range of motion; ECC, eccentric; DYN, dynamometer; ISOM, isometric; MST, manual strength test; MTT, modified thomas test; ROM, range of motion; STR, strength.

Because hamstrings are a biarticular muscles, the ROM evaluation is more complex, to monitor hamstrings stretch progression with an objective and clear tool seems useful.

2.5. Neuromuscular Exercises, Propioception and Stretching

Two recent reviews conclude that neuromuscular training programmes with different exercises (stretching, strength, plyometrics, balance, agility, stretching, running, cutting and landing technique) can reduce the relative risk of lower limb injuries in sport (acute and overuse), and injury severity (66). There is also a reduction in HMIs risk with neuromuscular training (45, 68). In the same way, programs based on proprioception exercises have shown to be effective in injury prevention (69), and specifically muscle injuries (45). The ideal neuromuscular exercises are sports-specific, involve progressive complexity and challenge (e.g. from linear low demanding exercises to change of direction and explosive).

Although stretching is popular among athletes and often prescribed by health professionals there is no consensus regarding whether stretching reduces injury risk or improves performance (70). Reduced hamstring flexibility may, however be a potential risk factor for HMIs (35), and has been used to grade hamstrings injury severity (71). Hamstring strain rehabilitation programs based on stretching exercises (44), or increasing ROM (23), have reported positive outcomes.

2.6. Core Strengthening Exercises

Lumbo-pelvic muscles can influence hamstring function during running (20) by modifying pelvic tilt and therefore influencing hamstring length (72), changing maximal force generating capacity (73), performance (74), and in its treatment (14, 48). There is less anterior pelvic tilt in unilateral exercises which reduces ESH (54), and they also allow the clinician to train each side to a capacity when there is side-to-side asymmetry (75). When a higher elongation stress is tolerated, bilateral exercises can be introduced. A key focus of core strength exercise is achieving and maintaining neutral spine position in various positions including lying, sitting, standing and during athletic performance (76).

Proprioception criteria for progression are described (77); but has been difficult to find criteria to design core exercises, progression or test with good agreement in the literature. There are rehabilitation protocols for HMIs using core exercises with good results (14, 48), therefore this protocol purpose decided to follow their criteria, adding unstable supports to increase difficulty, and progressing in movementj demands and instability; the goal is to be able to perform high-level activities while still stabilizing the spine (76).

2.7. Strength

Hamstrings PT angle shifts to longer muscle length after eccentric training, and there is a greater shift in PT angle when more hamstring muscle elongation is achieved during loading (78). This shift in hamstring PT angle has also been reported after concentric exercises (79), but only when performed at longer lengths (78). Eccentric lengthening exercises have been shown to improve hamstring flexibility (80), reduce risk of injury (81) and are associated with positive outcomes in HMIs rehabilitation (47). We propose performing strength exercises at longer lengths in order to maximise the increase in PT angle. Eccentric biased strengthening is also important because there is greater reduction in eccentric compared with concentric knee flexor strength post fatigue

decreasing the functional hamstrings to quadriceps ratio in patients with normal ratios before fatigue (36). Eccentric loading can be performed at slower velocities, as this still protects against the very fast angular velocities (up to 1000°/s) during running (54). Starting with isometric and concentric loading is important for regaining bulk and strength and to support tissue healing initially.

Only general recommendations about the quantification and progression of strength exercises during the rehabilitation are found (1, 18); and the test and position used to evaluate it in previous protocols are variable, Table 2. In our method isometric, concentric and eccentric exercises will overlap during the protocol; with part of the strength work performed at long lengths (20, 21).

3. Results

3.1. Health and Performance Evaluation

RTP decisions should be based on specific criteria including tests to confirm functional recovery (56). Normalised strength values are considered essential for athletes’ RTP, and can be tested in several ways. Manual strength test has been widely used, but in athletes’ rehabilitation this scale cannot be used to detect subtle differences in strength (82).

Isometric strength tests are low cost, easily performed and have adequate reliability (83). There is no agreement in the literature about the relationship between isometric strength and dynamic sports performance (83). Another issue is joint angle used for testing varies in the literature (84). Isometric tests should be performed at the angle at which peak force is achieved in the performance of interest (12).

Isokinetic tests are reproducible, allow muscle group isolation and test dynamic strength (85). Evaluation is frequently performed in non-weight-bearing open-kinetic chain positions so may not correlate with functional performance (83). Hamstring isokinetic strength differences between injured and uninjured legs of around 5% - 10% are considered to demonstrate restored function before RTP (12, 86). Recent studies show no differences in isokinetic strength between athletes that have been reinjured and those that have not been reinjured (19, 87). In one of these studies, 67% of athletes RTP with at least one hamstring isokinetic variable in more than 10% deficit compared to the non-injured side, and the reinjury rate was 11.5% (87). Isokinetic tests do not detect some performance deficits (12, 39, 40). Especially important are the deficits in horizontal strength and its effects on running performance (88), in spite of the complexity for its evaluation (41).

Power should be included in RTP considerations because it reflects sports performance (83). The preferable method for power measurement is open to discussion (83). Isoinertial dynamometry is probably more appropriate than isokinetic testing to measure power because it better reproduces human movement and higher speeds can be achieved (83).

There are several functional tests that evaluate hamstring function (89). Due to the important role of hip angle in hamstring function, the ideal functional test would be capable of evaluating the performance of injured versus uninjured legs (26) in functional positions.

Hamstrings flexibility has to be assessed in relation to hip and knee movement. There are several tests in the literature like the active knee extension test (AKE), with good inter-tester reliability (67). The Knee ROM deficit in the AKE has been used to predict recovery time in elite athletes after a HMIs (71). The active hip flexion test will be used to isolate hip movement and to evaluate hamstrings flexibility (51). Hip flexor flexibility is measured with the modified Thomas test (90).

Several tests in the literature evaluate core endurance or strength (52, 91), including the dip test, runner pose test and the single leg squat test (52). These tests assess body segment alignment of the trunk, pelvis, and thigh in several planes using validated rating criteria (52). In addition the single leg squat test has also been used to identify people with low hip muscle strength (91), which has been related with an increased risk for lower limb injuries (92).

3.2. Return to Play Decision

Decisions about RTP are part of all injuries treatment, with health, legal, and economical implications but without standard criteria (93, 94). There is no consensus regarding HMIs RTP criteria in the literature (12, 14, 46, 47, 95). A questionnaire based study in professional soccer club doctors found that the criteria for RTP after a HMI were pain resolution, normal strength, subjective feeling of full recovery reported by the player, normal flexibility and achievement of a specific soccer test; with no consensus on how to assess muscle strength (95).

Normalisation of strength, flexibility, fitness, etc. does necessarily mean performance is also recovered. Based on our experience in elite athletes, we recommend that the athlete will have to accomplish a normal week of training with at least four sessions, without pain, discomfort or "fears" and apprehension (96). During this week, performance can be monitored for normalisation by GPS (88) and heart rate data; this performance monitoring should be extended to the competition after RTP. Obviously, before starting regular training, there will be a progression in exercise demands, physically and technically, and from individual to team training.

Fatigue has influence on muscle injuries because of its effect on functional hamstrings to quadriceps ratio (36). Cardiovascular fitness needs to be normalised before competition, heart rate data from training sessions, and data from on field fitness tests are helpful to achieve this.

The strength criteria for RTP are still open for discussion. Isokinetic strength normalisation seems not to be required for successful RTP, but its relation with re-injury risk is unknown (87). Indeed we need to define when strength normalisation is achieved (percentage discrepancy, in how many isokinetic variables), or which data do we have to use to check strength normalisation, absolute values or ratios, contralateral leg or previously collected data (97). A study in 1252 American football players shows that mean quadriceps strength in the dominant leg is 1.9% higher, therefore, to use ratios which are more stable can be a good option (97).

Due to the recent papers published about isokinetic strength deficit and reinjury (87), to recommend a percentage for asymmetry is difficult, but seems logical to avoid more than 20% asymmetry in absolute values and achieve normal ratios before progressing to power rehabilitation and sport. The authors feel that it is necessary to add a hip extension strength test, with isokinetic (98) or similar, 100% related to the contralateral leg data or previous test, in a functional position, Table 1.

In addition to the strength testing, we recommend two clinical tests to evaluate patient readiness to RTP: This will include maximal eccentric knee flexion and maximal eccentric hip extension test, assessing the athlete apprehension, pain or discomfort. A maximal eccentric strength test without apprehension or pain is commonly used for us as part of RTP decisions in our daily practice, Table 1.

Some of the main maladaptations after HMIs seem to be related with a neuromuscular inhibition indicated by decreased EMG activity (39), the mechanisms of this neuromuscular inhibition and its effects on HMIs reinjury rates or athletes performance after RTP are still unclear. Further research is needed to decide if EMG evaluations should be incorporated as RTP criteria, but to detect and follow EMG disturbances evolution in injured athletes would be the first step to understand if in some HMIs there is a neuromuscular deficit that is influencing prognosis and reinjury.

The role of MRI to guide RTP clearance is at least limited, in a recent study the 89% of HMIs clinically recovered for RTP showed increased signal intensity on fluid-sensitive sequences on MRI, and one third of changes were suggestive of new fibrous tissue, the author therefore concluded that normal MRI is not necessary for the RTP (99); in addition another recent paper detected MRI abnormalities at RTP with posterior normalization (19), Table 1.

4. Conclusions

Resuming the main lines of the purpose, exercises in open and closed kinetic chain for hip extension and knee flexion, overlapping strength work (isometric, concentric and eccentric) in lengthening positions with a high hip angle, focusing on recovering eccentric strength in all degrees but especially when strain on hamstrings is higher (late degrees). Work specific hip extension to avoid horizontal strength deficits, and as soon as possible, to perform part of the strength work in standing with hip in functional position. We recommend putting the athlete on a secondary preventive program during the months after RTP.

We offer criteria to design the exercises, to progress between phases and for the RTP decision, which will be a useful tool in this key moment. The aim of these criteria is to objectify all physical variables involved in the RTP, making the decision less subjective or experience dependent. Even so, the RTP decision will be still predominantly experience-based. The recommendations reflect our current understanding, but should develop over time to come to a more evidence based decision process.

As we have recognized, several points are open to discussion; actually we send this purpose as an invitation to all people taking care of athletes’ health to join efforts, send suggestions for improvements and look to find the best rehabilitation strategy for HMIs. Both authors’ institutions have been working with this aim for the last years, trying to create networks to help this policy develop. Network collaboration is crucial if we want to improve the management of muscle injuries, since no scientific evidence is achieved on key points if samples are not enough; we can make mistakes as researchers; new ones, but should never repeat old mistakes.