title: Hamstring Muscle Injuries, a Rehabilitation Protocol Purpose.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hamstring acute muscle injuries are prevalent in several sports including AFL football (Australian Football League), sprinting and soccer, and are often associated with prolonged time away from sport.
  
  
  METHODS
  In response to this, research into prevention and management of hamstring injury has increased, but epidemiological data shows no decline in injury and re-injury rates, suggesting that rehabilitation programs and return to play (RTP) criteria have to be improved. There continues to be a lack of consensus regarding how to assess performance, recovery and readiness to RTP, following hamstring strain injury.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The aim of this paper was to propose rehabilitation protocol for hamstring muscle injuries based on current basic science and research knowledge regarding injury demographics and management options.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Criteria-based (subjective and objective) progression through the rehabilitation program will be outlined along with exercises for each phase, from initial injury to RTP.
authors.affiliation: Football Club Barcelona, Medical Department, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Valle
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine, Aspetar, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: L Tol
authors.affiliation: Sports Medicine Department, Millenium Institute of Sport and Health, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.affiliation: Football Club Barcelona, Medical Department, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Gil
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rodas
authors.affiliation: Sports Medicine Department, Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Malliaras
authors.affiliation: Sports Medicine Department, Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom ; Musculoskeletal Department, Thessaloniki Sports Medicine Clinic, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Malliaropoulos
authors.affiliation: Football Club Barcelona, Medical Department, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Vicenc
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rizo
authors.affiliation: Football Club Barcelona, Medical Department, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.affiliation: Football Club Barcelona, Medical Department, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jaume
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jardi
keywords: Muscles; Rehabilitation; Skeletal; Wounds and Injuries