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Research Title:	Evidence based prevention of hamstring injuries in sport.
Type of Research:
Category:	Conditioning
Keywords:	Football Hamstring Quadriceps flexibility reinjury, risk factors, treatment
Author(s):	J Petersen, P Holmich
Author(s) Bio Box:
Release Date:	27 March 2006
Research Summary/Text:	Hamstring injuries are among the most common injuries in sports that involve sprinting and jumping. A major problem with hamstring strains is the high incidence of reinjury. A number of potential risk factors have been proposed for hamstring strains. This literature review presents an overview of injury classification, mechanism of injury, aetiological factors, current trends in treatment (including the five phases of rehabilitation) and discusses evidence-based prevention of hamstring injuries.
Research Objectives:	To review publications for evidence based prevention of hamstring injuries in sport.
Research Outcomes:	Not much evidence based research has been published on the prevention and treatment of hamstring strain injury. Only two prospective studies have so far been published. Further research with well designed prospective studies and randomised controlled trials is needed.
Research Implications:	Hamstring strains are among the most common injuries in sports that involve sprinting and jumping, with most studies focussing on prevalence in football, including Australian Rules football. The reinjury rate has been found to be 12-31%. The most common modifiable factors for injury are: imbalance of muscular strength with a low hamstring to quadriceps ratio, muscle fatigue, hamstring tightness, insufficient warm up and previous injury. Future studies on prevention should be based on investigation of these factors. The healing process after a hamstring strain may be much slower than clinical findings would indicate and there is a need for further studies on this also.
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