Rehabilitation After Hamstring Strain Injury Emphasizing Eccentric Strengthening at Long Muscle Lengths: Results of Long Term Follow-up

Publication Date

2015

Journal Title

J Sport Rehabil

Abstract

CONTEXT: Hamstring strain injuries have a high recurrence rate. OBJECTIVE: To determine if a protocol emphasizing eccentric strength training with the hamstrings in a lengthened position resulted in a low recurrence rate. DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study Setting: Sports medicine physical therapy clinic. PARTICIPANTS: 50 athletes with hamstring strain injury (age 36+/-16 yo; 30 men, 20 women; 3 G1, 43 G2, 4 G3; 25 recurrent injuries) followed a 3-phase rehabilitation protocol emphasizing eccentric strengthening with the hamstrings in a lengthened position. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Injury recurrence; isometric hamstring strength at 80 masculine, 60 masculine, 40 masculine and 20 masculine knee flexion in sitting with the thigh flexed to 40 masculine above the horizontal and the seat back at 90 masculine to the horizontal (strength tested prior to return to sport). RESULTS: Four of the fifty athletes sustained reinjuries between 3 and 12 months after return to sport (8% recurrence rate). The other 42 athletes had not sustained a reinjury at an average of 24+/-12 mo after return to sport. Eight noncompliant athletes did not complete the rehabilitation and returned to sport prior to initiating eccentric strengthening in the lengthened state. All four reinjuries occurred in these noncompliant athletes. At time of return to sport, compliant athletes had full restoration of strength while noncompliant athletes had significant hamstring weakness, which was progressively worse at longer muscle lengths (Compliance x Side x Angle P=0.006; involved vs. noninvolved at 20 masculine, compliant 7% stronger, noncompliant 43% weaker). CONCLUSION: Compliance with rehabilitation emphasizing eccentric strengthening with the hamstrings in a lengthened position resulted in no reinjuries.

Volume Number

26

Issue Number

2

Pages

131-140

Document Type

Article

EPub Date

2015/09/12

Status

Faculty, Northwell Researcher

Facility

School of Medicine; Northwell Health

Primary Department

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Additional Departments

Orthopedic Surgery

PMID

27632842

DOI

10-1123/jsr.2015-0099

Comments

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