Association between Hamstring Muscle Strength and Strain in Athletes: A Systematic Review

Background and The purpose of this study was to systematically review published studies on the association between strength and strain of hamstring muscle in athletes with and without hamstring strain. Hamstring strain is highly prevalent in athletes. The probable recurrence of hamstring strain is annoying for athletes and athletic leagues, therefore, it is important to investigate its causes and search for solutions to prevent and treat this injury. Muscle strength as one of the causes of strain could be helpful in this field.
Electronic databases including Science Direct, Elsevier, ProQuest, PubMed, and Google Scholar were searched. The search keywords included Athletes, Hamstring strain, Muscle incoordination, Electromyography, Isokinetic.
A total of 380 articles was found of which 160 were duplicate, 150 articles were excluded according to their titles and abstracts, and the rest were studied. Finally 14 articles that met our inclusion criteria were selected. Six of the 14 studies were carried out in healthy athletes and eight investigated hamstring strain in athletes with the injury.
The results showed that hamstring muscle derangement was one of the most important factors causing hamstring strain. The evaluation of hamstring damage was found to be useful in anticipating future strain in athletes. This evaluation could be beneficial for rehabilitation prior to and after the strain.