Clinical predictors of time to return to competition and of recurrence following hamstring strain in elite Australian footballers.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate early clinical predictors of time to return to competition and of recurrence following hamstring strain.


METHODS
Prospective observational study.


METHODS
Elite level of Australian football competition.


METHODS
59 players who suffered a hamstring strain in 2002 season.


METHODS
Clinical assessment by a physiotherapist and questionnaire.


METHODS
Time taken to return to play and recurrence of hamstring injury within 3 weeks.


RESULTS
Players taking more than 1 day to walk pain-free were significantly more likely (p=0.018) to take longer than 3 weeks to return to competition (adjusted odds ratio 4.0; 95% CI 1.3 to 12.6). Nine players (15.2%) experienced an injury recurrence, all involving the biceps femoris. Recurrence was more likely in players who reported a hamstring injury in the past 12 months (adjusted odds ratio 19.6; 95% CI 1.5 to 261.0; p=0.025).


CONCLUSIONS
Time to walk pain-free and previous hamstring injury are predictors of time to return to competition and recurrence, respectively, and should be included in a clinical assessment to aid in prognosis.
Warren
Price
P
Centre for Health, Exercise and Sports Medicine, School of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
Gabbe
Belinda J
BJ
Schneider-Kolsky
Michal
M
Bennell
Kim L
KL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000293:injuries*; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012307:Risk Factors; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013848:Thigh / Q000293:injuries*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014739:Victoria; D055815:Young Adult