Rehabilitation After Surgery for Proximal Hamstring Tendon Tears

Focusing on postoperative rehabilitation following proximal hamstring tears is critical for restoring form, function, and giving the patient the best possible chance of returning to his/her pre-injury level of activity. Prior to surgery, it is vital for the surgeon to manage patient expectations with respect to the timeline of their recovery and ability to return to sports. The main goals of postoperative rehabilitation should be to protect the site of repair during its healing process, ensure restoration of function, prevent the recurrence of symptoms, and control the patient’s pain. While various principles of rehabilitation have been studied (e.g. adjunctive therapies, range of motion and weight-bearing guidelines, exercise progression, etc.), there is debate as to which strategies are optimal for rehabilitation and can allow for safe return-to-play. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss what is currently known about rehabilitation following proximal hamstring tear repairs, as well as discussing current practices.