Rehabilitation of Hamstring Injuries

The main aim of hamstring injury rehabilitation is to facilitate that the athlete is returning to sport at highest possible performance level as fast as possible but with a minimal risk of reinjury. The characteristics and presentation of the different hamstring injury types may guide the clinician toward a specific and appropriate rehabilitation plan, including rehabilitation goals with adequate progression and loading through stepwise rehabilitation phases. This chapter summarizes the evidence for hamstring rehabilitation programs following athletic hamstring injuries. The chapter covers acute hamstring muscle injuries, complete hamstring tendon avulsion ruptures, apophyseal avulsion fractures, and proximal hamstring tendinopathies. It further provides recommendations for how to optimize the rehabilitation process for the specific hamstring injury types.