Forsythe Brian, Bohn Camden, Hand Catherine, Hand Francis, Khazi-Syed Daanish, Chang Joshua, Singh Harmanjeet, Savoia Andrew, Spaan Jonathan, Borque Kyle, Frank Rachel
RUSH University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
Orthop J Sports Med. 2025 Aug 20;13(8):23259671251360422. doi: 10.1177/23259671251360422. eCollection 2025 Aug.
Hamstring injuries are common in athletes performing high-intensity sports, such as soccer, impacting performance and return to play (RTP) times. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of hamstring injuries on RTP and performance among Major League Soccer (MLS) players over 10 years.
To evaluate the effect of hamstring injuries on RTP times and performance metrics among MLS players over 10 years, with a focus on injury characteristics, rehabilitation practices, and positional differences.
Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.
From 2010 to 2021, 2715 MLS players with hamstring injuries were identified by the MLS Injury Surveillance Database and analyzed. RTP times, injury rates, and reinjury rates were compared between the 2010-2015 and 2016-2021 cohorts. Performance metrics (games, minutes, goals, and assists) were extracted. Uninjured controls were matched 2 to1 by position, age, and experience. tests were used to assess postinjury performance differences.
Game-related injuries required longer RTP than practice injuries (27.8 vs 21.9 days; = .023), and acute noncontact injuries took more time to recover than chronic injuries (24.9 vs 13.2 days; < .0001). RTP times increased in the 2016-2021 cohort compared with the 2010-2015 cohort for minimal/first-degree injuries (15.09 ± 31.29 vs 10.13 ± 28.53 days; = .018) and overall (20.26 vs 13.60 days; = .002), despite stable injury rates ( = .405). Reinjury rates decreased nonsignificantly ( = .603); however, RTP after reinjury was longer in the 2016-2021 cohort (25.05 vs 10.03 days; = .025). Defenders saw reduced minutes played 2 years after injury compared with controls (-221.60 ± 833.66 vs -34.80 ± 792.11; = .007). RTP times were unaffected by playing surface grass versus turf ( = .620) or player position (forward, midfielder, defender, and goalkeeper) ( = .900).
Injury rates were unchanged in the 2010-2015 and 2016-2021cohorts; however, RTP times increased in the latter cohort, especially for recurrent injuries. Game-related and acute noncontact injuries required longer RTP, and defenders showed the greatest performance decline. Future studies are needed to further highlight mechanisms of injury and treatment for preventative protocols.
腘绳肌损伤在从事高强度运动（如足球）的运动员中很常见，会影响运动表现和恢复参赛（RTP）时间。本研究旨在评估10年间美国职业足球大联盟（MLS）球员腘绳肌损伤对RTP和运动表现的影响。
评估10年间MLS球员腘绳肌损伤对RTP时间和运动表现指标的影响，重点关注损伤特征、康复措施和位置差异。
队列研究；证据等级，3级。
通过MLS损伤监测数据库识别并分析了2010年至2021年期间2715名有腘绳肌损伤的MLS球员。比较了2010 - 2015年和2016 - 2021年队列之间的RTP时间、损伤率和再损伤率。提取了运动表现指标（比赛场次、上场时间、进球数和助攻数）。按位置、年龄和经验以2比1的比例匹配未受伤的对照组。采用检验评估伤后的运动表现差异。
与训练损伤相比，与比赛相关的损伤需要更长的RTP时间（27.8天对21.9天；P = 0.023），急性非接触性损伤比慢性损伤恢复时间更长（24.9天对13.2天；P < 0.0001）。与2010 - 2015年队列相比，2016 - 2任年队列中轻微/一级损伤的RTP时间增加（15.09±31.29天对10.13±28.53天；P = 0.018），总体RTP时间也增加（20.26天对13.60天；P = 0.002），尽管损伤率保持稳定（P = 0.405）。再损伤率无显著下降（P = 0.603）；然而，2016 - 2021年队列中再损伤后的RTP时间更长（25.05天对10.03天；P = 0.025）。与对照组相比，后卫在受伤2年后上场时间减少（-221.60±833.66对-34.80±792.11；P = 0.007）。RTP时间不受比赛场地是天然草皮还是人工草皮（P = 0.620）或球员位置（前锋、中场球员、后卫和守门员）（P = 0.900）的影响。
2010 - 2015年和2016 - 2021年队列中的损伤率没有变化；然而，后一个队列中的RTP时间增加，尤其是复发性损伤。与比赛相关的损伤和急性非接触性损伤需要更长的RTP时间，后卫的运动表现下降最为明显。未来需要进一步研究以突出损伤机制和预防方案的治疗方法。
