Bram Swinnen

Hamstring injuries are a major problem in sports, especially those involving intensive sprints, jumps, and kicks, such as football, rugby, track and field, and basketball (Kujala et al. 1997, Woods et al. 2004, Orchard et al. 2002). These injuries are highly prone to recurrence; approximately one-third of them recur, particularly within the first two weeks after an athlete returns to sport (Orchard et al. 2002). The risk of re-injury remains high for at least a year, and often the subsequent injury is more severe than the original strain (Warren et al. 2010). The high recurrence rate shortly after athletes return to sport indicates that many rehabilitation plans may be inadequate (Swinnen 2016). To develop effective rehabilitation programs, it is crucial to address several questions: What are the risk factors that elevate the rate of hamstring injuries and how can training or rehabilitation plans mitigate these risks? Considering a previous hamstring strain is a significant risk factor for future injuries, it’s important to understand the changes in muscle properties following a strain and why these changes increase the risk of recurrence upon returning to play (Brockett et al. 2004). Identifying the most effective exercises and training parameters is essential for preventing injuries or aiding in rehabilitation to prevent re-injury.