A review of hamstring strain injuries highlights a lack of high-evidence studies and proposes a new conceptual model for understanding how multiple risk factors contribute to injury.
This review proposes a new conceptual model to better understand the multifactorial nature of hamstring strain injuries to aid in developing new prevention methods.
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.
Mendiguchía et al. (Wed,) conducted a review in Hamstring strain injuries. A review of hamstring strain injuries highlights a lack of high-evidence studies and proposes a new conceptual model for understanding how multiple risk factors contribute to injury.