Table 3

Characteristics of the included studies

First author, year of publicationStudy populationNumber of subjects*DiagnosedAge (years) mean±SD% MaleFollow-up periodNumber of recurrences
Gibbs et al9Elite Australian Rules football athletes who sustained an acute Grade 0–1 hamstring injury (AFL club 1998–2002)Total: 31CE MRI18–33100The same playing seasonTotal: 6 (19.4%)
Grade 0: 14 (45.2%)
Grade 1: 17 (54.8%)Grade 0: 0 (0%)
Grade 2: 0Grade 1: 6 (35%)
Koulouris et al17Elite Australian Rules football athletes who sustained an acute Grade 1–2 hamstring injury (AFL 2002)Total: 41MRI24±3.8 (Single injury)100The same playing seasonTotal: 10 (24.4%)
Grades: NA25.5±3.8 (Re-injury)
Malliaropoulos et al10Elite track and field athletes with acute, first-time unilateral Grade 0–2 hamstring strain (1999–2007)Total: 165CE18–2457.72 Years after injuryTotal: 23 (13.9%)
Grade 0: 75 (45.4%)Grade 0: 7 (9.3%)
Grade 1: 58 (35.2%)SonographyGrade 1: 14 (24.1%)
Grade 2: 32 (19.4%)Grade 2: 2 (6.3%)
Sherry and Best 1924 Athletes of various sports with an acute Grade 1–2 hamstring strainTotal: 24CE24.3±12.4 (STSS)751 Year after return to sportsTotal: 8 (33.3%)
Grade 0: 0
Grade 1: 12 (50%)23.2±11.1 (PATS)Grades: NA
Grade 2: 12 (50%)
Verrall et al181 of 3 Elite Australian Rules football athletes who sustained an acute Grade 1–2 hamstring injury (AFL)Total: 30CE23.6±3.2100The same and subsequent playing seasonTotal: 19 (63.3%)
Grades: NAMRI
  • * Number of subjects are those athletes who sustained a hamstring injury based on our inclusion criteria.

  • Age range of subjects.

  • Hamstring injuries that occurred prior to the end of the season break period, which could not be monitored during rehabilitation, were excluded.

  • AFL, Australian Football League; CE, clinical examination; NA, not available; PATS, progressive agility and trunk stabilisation; STSS, stretching and strengthening.