Hamstring Injury in Athletes: Using MR Imaging Measurements to Compare Extent of Muscle Injury with Amount of Time Lost from Competition

Abstract

Rehabilitation time was related to MR measurements such as the percentage of abnormal muscle area and approximate volume of muscle injury. Hamstring injury most frequently involved the long head of the biceps femoris muscle, and involvement of the intramuscular tendon was common.

MR Imaging of Muscle Trauma: Anatomy, Biomechanics, Pathophysiology, and Imaging Appearance

“…As early as 1993, it was noted that injuries exhibiting complete transection, greater than 50% cross-sectional involvement, MTJ tearing, deep damage, and intramuscular fluid collections at MR imaging required longer rehabilitation than smaller, more superficial injuries without myotendinous disruption (76). Subsequent studies have also demonstrated a relationship between number of days lost and the percentage of the muscle's cross-sectional area and volume involved, length of MTJ signal intensity changes, and visible tendon damage (18,19,75,77).…”

“…Healing rates show considerable heterogeneity, even within the hamstring musculature; the biceps femoris takes longer to heal and is most prone to reinjury (70,77,78). Recovery times for quadriceps and calf injuries are similar to those of the hamstrings, whereas groin injuries tend to heal more quickly, but the number of studies focusing on these regions is limited (70).…”

Transcendence of musculoskeletal injury in athletes with disability during major competition

“…[3][4][5] Indeed, the mean time to return to sport in athletes with muscle tears which are visible on MRI scanning is 27 days. 4 The two athletes described in this series competed successfully without analgesia, 4 days and 6 days following injury, achieving personal best times and distances.…”

“…1,2 These injuries can usually result in significant consequences on performance due to time loss from training and competition. [3][4][5] Although there is a relative paucity of published literature on musculoskeletal injuries in athletes with disabilities, it is evident that overall injury rates are the same for athletes with and without physical disability. 6 Yet, the one group of disabled athletes that may be at higher risk for musculoskeletal injury are the amputees as they often experience muscle imbalances and have biomechanical compensation.…”

Value of Sonography Combined With Clinical Assessment to Evaluate Muscle Injury Severity in Athletes

“…In a typical sports medicine practice, up to 30% of patients present with muscle strains related to overstretching, which is common in sprinting events and contact sports such as soccer, basketball, and rugby. 2,3 As with other athletic injuries, the main objective of the initial evaluation is to evaluate injury severity, which governs the time to return to sport. Premature sport resumption can result in recurrent injuries.…”