Abstract

 Background: Hamstring strains are one of the most common injuries in sport. Previous injury has been found to be one of the greatest risk factors associated with recurrent hamstring strains. Although rehabilitation programmes have been developed and implemented to aid safe and efficient return-to-play, the incidence of hamstring injuries has not decreased. 
 Discussion: As hamstring strains most commonly occur during the eccentric phase of muscle action, rehabilitation should focus on eccentric muscle strengthening. The L-protocol and the Nordic Hamstring Exercise protocol strengthen the hamstring muscles eccentrically. They have been found to be effective in decreasing the incidence of new hamstring strains as well as the rate of recurrence. This commentary therefore aims to suggest changes to the return-to-play criteria following hamstring strains to prevent the seemingly unpreventable.
Highlights
Hamstring strains are one of the most common injuries in sport
This gives practitioners information regarding the size of the tear, the amount of pain and potential loss of function. [1,3] they may be described based on the location in the specific hamstring muscle affected. [2]
The literature states that the greatest risk factor for a hamstring strain is a previous hamstring strain. [1,3] The high rate of recurrence could be due to ineffective rehabilitation programmes, returning to sport too soon, or a combination of these and various other modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors
Summary
Hamstring strains are one of the most common injuries in sport. Previous injury has been found to be one of the greatest risk factors associated with recurrent hamstring strains. The L-protocol and the Nordic Hamstring Exercise protocol strengthen the hamstring muscles eccentrically They have been found to be effective in decreasing the incidence of new hamstring strains as well as the rate of recurrence. This commentary aims to suggest changes to the return-to-play criteria following hamstring strains to prevent the seemingly unpreventable. [1,3] Besides hamstring strains being classified according to the mechanism of injury, they can be classified into three different grades, depending on the degree of severity of the injury. This gives practitioners information regarding the size of the tear, the amount of pain and potential loss of function. [1,3] they may be described based on the location in the specific hamstring muscle affected. [2]
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