Hamstrung by Hamstring Strains: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to review those studies which have attempted to delineate causative factors of hamstring strains. Anatomy and biomechanics of the hamstring muscle group are reviewed. Mechanisms of injury and various etiological factors are presented. Decreased hamstring muscle flexibility and decreased hamstring muscle strength were factors most frequently studied, yet the relationship of these factors to the incidence of hamstring strains remains unclear. Future studies should seek to test hamstring muscle flexibility and strength under conditions simulating the proposed mechanisms of injury. Results of further research examining decreased hamstring muscle flexibility and strength must be viewed in light of age, levels of maturity, history of previous injury, demands of specific activities, and psychological characteristics of the participants.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1984;5(4):184-195.

Altered muscle activation following hamstring injuries

“…Cameron et al 12 suggested that sportspeople with lower movement discrimination scores had an increased risk for incurring a hamstring injury 12. The earlier onsets of the hamstring-injured muscles during the double- to single-leg may reflect changed proprioception39 following an injury of the hamstring muscle. From a clinical perspective, patients with a history of hamstring injuries often complain of persistent feelings of discomfort or tightness in their hamstrings which prevent them from reattaining full preinjury training levels 39–42.…”

“…The earlier onsets of the hamstring-injured muscles during the double- to single-leg may reflect changed proprioception39 following an injury of the hamstring muscle. From a clinical perspective, patients with a history of hamstring injuries often complain of persistent feelings of discomfort or tightness in their hamstrings which prevent them from reattaining full preinjury training levels 39–42. These symptoms may be present beyond the time frame normally considered to be necessary for healing of myotendinous structures.…”

Hamstring Injuries in Sprinting—The Role of Eccentric Exercise

“…lnjuries associated with a lack of flexibility or abnormal mobility such as -joint hypo/hypermobility (i.e., hip, superior tibiofibular) (4,29,30,45). 3) lnjuries due to variables associated with the training program which include -poor conditioning -overtraining/fatigue -overstretching, etc.…”

The Reaction Time of Mental Rotation Predicts Strain in Rugby Players

“…The causes of many of these athletic injuries have been shown to be of a non-contact nature 1) . Therefore, many factors such as lack of flexibility, loss of muscle strength, imbalance of antagonists, muscle fatigue, and lack of sufficient warm-up exercises have been reported as causes of hamstring strain [2][3][4][5][6][7] . Although there have been many reports on the development of symptoms of hamstring strain, none of these studies h a v e c a r r i e d o u t c o g n i t i v e n e u r o s c i e n c e examinations.…”