Hamstring Strain in Soccer Players: Things the Trainer Must Know

Abstract

with physical activity [12,13]. Frustration with hamstring strain is explained by the high prevalence of these injuries and by the prolonged duration of symptoms, poor healing responses and a high risk of re-injury rate [7,14]. Also Engebretsen et al. [15] found that previous injury was a risk factor for hamstring injury after reporting 76 injuries in 508 amateur football players. Ekstrand et al. [16] reported injury rates over seven consecutive seasons from 23 professional European Football clubs and found unchanged training and competition hamstring injury rates during this period. These findings may suggest that prevention and rehabilitation programs have not been effective. The purpose of this article is to highlight the main points that the professional soccer trainer must know about hamstring strain, treatment, rehabilitation, and the risk of re-injury.