Objective: To describe the available criteria to determine Return-To-Play (RTP) following a hamstring strain injury (HSI) in professional male football.
Design: Scoping review.
Methods: The following electronic databases were searched: PubMed, MEDLINE, web of science, and SPORTDiscus using keywords related to HSI in elite football. All types of studies in English reporting at least one RTP criterion for professional football players who sustained an HSI were included.
Results: In total, 19 studies met the inclusion criteria. RTP criteria were divided into three categories: clinical, strength and performance criteria. Clinical criteria were also divided into sub-categories: absence of pain, hamstring flexibility, medical staff clearance, psychological readiness, surgeon’s opinion, and imaging. From the 19 included studies, absence of pain was reported in 7 studies (42%), hamstring flexibility in 5 studies (26%), medical staff clearance in 2 studies (11%), psychological readiness in 7 studies (42%), surgeon’s opinion in 1 study (5%), imaging in 3 studies (16%), strength criteria in 9 studies (47%), and performance criteria in 6 studies (32%).
Conclusions: Practitioners working in professional male football could benefit from using a combination of criteria in their RTP battery of tests. Because of the breadth of criteria identified, a multi-disciplinary approach including psychology, radiology, sports medicine, physiotherapy, and, as appropriate, surgical opinion could be warranted. The validity of the included RTP tests and their optimal application specific to the type of injury and stage of rehabilitation is still unknown. This scoping review described the available criteria to assess RTP following an HSI in professional football, proposed methodological considerations, new research questions, and new RTP criteria for future studies, and provided information to help practitioners in professional football making informed decisions regarding RTP following an HSI.