Article characteristics
| Author | N | Population | Intervention(s) | Follow-up | Primary outcome | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherry and Best19 | 24 | Athletes with acute hamstring strain, grades 1 and 2 based on physical examination | I1: rehabilitation programme consisting of PATS exercises and icing I2: rehabilitation programme consisting of static stretching, isolated progressive resistance exercise and icing (STST) | 1 year | Time to RTP Re-injury | I1: 22.2 days (SD 8.3) I2: 37.4 days (SD 27.6) I1: 0/13 I2: 7/10 |
| Silder et al20 | 29 | Athletes with suspected HI within the past 10 days confirmed by physical examination and MRI | I1: rehabilitation programme consisting of PATS programme I2: rehabilitation programme consisting of PETS | 1 year | Time to RTP Craniocaudal length of injury | I1: 25.2 days (SD 6.3) I2: 28.8 days(SD 11.4) I1: 7.9 cm (95% CI 2.7 to 13.1) I2: 15.9 cm (95% CI 8.4 to 23.4) |
| Reynolds et al17 | 44 | Patients with sports-related tear of the hamstring, <48 h after injury | I1: two capsules 50 mg meclofenamate and two diclofenac placebo capsules 3 times/day for 7 days I2: two 25 mg diclofenac and two meclofenamate placebo capsules 3 times/day for 7 days C: meclofenamate and diclofenac placebo capsules | 7 days | Sum of pain score (VAS) in the last 24 h | I1: 7.9 (SD 6.6) I2: 8.8 (SD 7.7) C: 3.9 (SD 3.3) |
| Malliaropoulos et al18 | 80 | Athletes with a ultrasonographic grade 2 hamstring strain | I1+I2: during first 48 h PRICE followed by rehabilitation programme I1: four stretching sessions daily I2: one stretching session daily | RTP | Time required for full rehabilitation Time to equalisation of knee ROM | I1: 13.27 days (SD 0.71) I2: 15.05 days (SD 0.81) I1: 5.57 days (SD 3.3) I2: 7.23 days (SD 0.525) |
| Cibulka et al16 | 20 | Patients with a clinical diagnosis of hamstring muscle strain and sacroiliac joint dysfunction | I: moist heat, passive stretching and manipulation of sacroiliac joint C: moist heat, passive stretching | None reported | Hamstring peak torque Passive knee extension ROM | I1: 46.4 ft lbs (SD 17.47 I2: 45.7 ft lbs (SD 22.70) I1: 155.0° (SD 14.2) I2: 144.6° (SD 16.7) |
| Askling et al21 | 75 | Elite Swedish football players with MRI (<5 days after injury) confirmed HI | I1: L-protocol aimed at loading the hamstrings during extensive lengthening, mainly during eccentric muscle actions I2: C-protocol consisting of conventional exercises for the hamstrings with less emphasis on lengthening | 1 year | Time to RTP Re-injury | I1: 28 days (SD 15) I2: 51 days (SD 21) I1: 0/37 I2: 1/38 |
| Askling et al22 | 56 | Swedish elite sprinters and jumpers with MRI (<5 days after injury) confirmed HI | I1: L-protocol aimed at loading the hamstrings during extensive lengthening, mainly during eccentric muscle actions I2: C-protocol consisting of conventional exercises for the hamstrings with less emphasis on lengthening | 1 year | Time to RTP Re-injury | I1: 49 days (SD 26) I2: 86 days (SD 34) I1: 0/28 I2: 2/28 |
| Reurink et al24 | 80 | Athletes with acute hamstring injuries confirmed by physical examination and MRI | I: two 3 mL platelet-rich plasma injections and a standard rehabilitation programme C: two 3 mL saline placebo injections and a standard rehabilitation programme | 1 year | Time to RTP | I: 42 days (IQR 30–58) C: 42 days (IQR 37–56) |
| Hamid et al23 | 28 | Athletes diagnosed with an acute ultrasonographic grade 2 hamstring injury | I: one 3 mL platelet-rich plasma injection and a rehabilitation programme C: rehabilitation programme only | RTS | Time to RTP | I: 26.7 days (SD 7.0) C: 42.5 days (SD 20.6) |
| Hamilton et al25 | 90 | Athletes with acute posterior thigh pain confirmed by MRI as grade 1 or 2 hamstring lesion | I1: one 3 mL platelet-rich plasma injection and a rehabilitation programme I2: one 3 mL platelet-poor plasma injection and a rehabilitation programme C: rehabilitation programme only | 6 months | Time to RTP | I1: 21 days (95% CI 17.9 to 24.1) I2: 27 days (95% CI 20.6 to 33.4) C: 25 days (95% CI 21.5 to 28.5) |
C, control; C-protocol, conventional rehabilitation protocol; I, intervention; L-protocol, loading and lengthening rehabilitation protocol; PATS, progressive agility and trunk stabilisation; PETS, progressive running and eccentric strengthening; ROM, range of motion; RTP, return to play; RTS, return to sport; STST, stretching and strengthening; VAS, visual analogue scale.