Hamstring Injuries Prevention in Soccer: A Narrative Review of Current Literature

Abstract

Hamstring injuries and reinjuries are one of the most important sport lesions in several sport activities including soccer, Australian football, track and field, rugby, and in general in all sport activities requiring sprinting and acceleration. However, it is important to distinguish between the lesions of the biceps femoris and semitendinosus and semimembranosus. Indeed, three muscles representing the hamstring complex have a very different injury etiology and consequently require different prevention strategies. This fact may explain, at least in part, the high incidence of reinjuries. In soccer, hamstring injuries cause an important rate of time loss (i.e., in average 15–21 matches missed per club per season). The hamstring injury risk factors may be subdivided in three categories: “primary injury risk factors” (i.e., the risk factors mainly causing a first lesion), “recurrent injury risk factors” (i.e., the risk that can cause a reinjury), and bivalent injury risk factors” (i.e., the risk factors that can cause both primary injuries and reinjuries). The high incidence of hamstring lesions caused consequently an important increase in hamstring injury research. However, although the prevention has increased paradoxically, epidemiological data do not show a loss in injuries and/or reinjuries but, on the contrary, they show an increase in hamstring injuries. This apparent paradox highlights the importance both of the improvement in the prevention programs quality and the criteria for return to play after hamstring injury.

The Preventive Warm up to Reduce No-Contact Injury Risk in Amateur Male Soccer Players

“…Therefore, the introduction of a few exercises in the warm up does not seem sufficient but a specific part of the training session must be organized in which are introduced exercises with external loads and exercises for the gluteal-hamstring synergy (Biz et al, 2021;Shield & Bourne, 2018;Afonso et al, 2021;Bisciotti et al, 2020;Petersen et al, 2011).…”

Football de haut-niveau : analyses physique et physiologique – blessures et prévention

“…du NHE, qui est un exercice bilatéral et mettant en jeu la seule articulation du genou, ce dernier doit être complété par un exercice bi-articulaire et unilatéral [197]. Néanmoins, Fanchini et al…”

Kinematics and activation of hamstring muscles during the initial acceleration phase of sprinting in soccer players: A biomechanical investigation

“…Muscle strain is a highly complex issue that has a direct impact on the performance of soccer players and the overall ranking of clubs in soccer leagues (Bisciotti et al, 2019;Biz et al, 2021;Danielsson et al, 2020;Ekstrand et al, 2011;Waldén et al, 2005aWaldén et al, , 2005bWoods et al, 2004). Hamstring muscle strain injuries (HSI) are the most common type of injury in soccer, with 12-17% of all injuries occurring during the soccer league season (Ekstrand et al, 2011;Hauge Engebretsen et al, 2010;Woods et al, 2004).…”

“…Hamstring muscle strains are responsible for approximately 20-25% of all missed matches. Further, their recurrence rate is among the highest of all cases at around 13-22% (Bisciotti et al, 2019;Ekstrand et al, 2011;Waldén et al, 2005a, b). Therefore, the prevention and management of HSI are crucial to maintaining and enhancing the performance of soccer players for achieving positive club results.…”