Reintegration Program for Professional Football Players after Grade 2 Hamstring Injuries

Abstract

Hamstring strains are among the most common injuries in soccer, with an increased risk of recurrence. There are three stages in injuries: 1 Diagnosis, 2 Physiotherapy – Rehabilitation, 3 Reintegration. The present study investigated the reintegration actions (return to play – RTP) for eight professional footballers (Super League 1) after hamstring strain. Eight professional soccer players who had hamstring injuries with Grade 2 strain were measured and evaluated. Two measurements were taken before and after injury. The first measurement involved maximum effort field tests of 30, 40, 50 and 60 meters in a straight line without a ball, using global positioning system (GPS) devices placed on the athletes for the interpretation and evaluation of their results. The second measurement aimed to evaluate the maximum strength of the eight players before and after their injury, using squats, bench presses and leg curl exercises on the machine. The statistical analysis included descriptive and inductive statistics (paired t-test). Analysis of the data collected showed that all soccer players had higher performance in the measurements taken after injury, both in speed and in maximal strength. In conclusion, following the appropriate rehabilitation and reintegration, the eight athletes were not affected by their injury and managed to return to competitive action (RTP) without recurrence and maximizing their performance.