Hamstring Strain Injuries are commonly seen among the athletic population at a competitive and recreational level. Hamstring Strain Injuries are proven to have an elevated re-injury rate, in particular, 25% will occur in the first week of returning to play at the exact same location as the initial injury. An average Return to Play timeframe of 11-25 days has been for Hamstring Strain Injuries varying from Grade 1 to 2 strains. These Return to Play timeframes are commonly judged purely by the capability of the individual to complete a series of short sport-specific training tests.
However, due to the nature of the biological healing process immature scar tissue and incomplete muscle healing is often still evident at the 2 – 3 week mark post the initial injury. For these reasons a more comprehensive physiotherapy management should be undertaken to respect the normal biological healing rates of muscles and the true individualised demands required for the patient to return to their sport at a full intensity to avoid the flow on effects of re-injury and insufficient rehab.
Physiotherapist’s at the clinic have access to accurate, scientific technology that allows them to actively test exact muscle imbalances in the hamstrings thought out different ranges of motion and at different training variables, such as power versus endurance. Furthermore, physiotherapy hands on management is able to optimise scar tissue healing, look at all contributing biomechanical factors that led to the initial injury and address these. It is proven that for these injuries are gradually return to sport protocol is most advisable to avoid re-injury and allow athletes to return to safely return to play at there previous level of function/intensity. Detailed programs can be written out for athletes of all abilities based on there clinical findings and presentation.
