Distal Hamstring Muscle Injuries

Distal hamstring muscle injuries, although relatively uncommon, can potentially lead to substantial morbidity in athletes; prolonged rehabilitation times and high rates of reoccurrence have been documented.

Overall, magnetic resonance imaging is considered the "gold standard" for evaluation of hamstring injuries because it allows assessment for concomitant pathology and can clarify return-to-sport timelines.

Complete tears of the distal biceps femoris and semimembranosus muscles respond well to surgical repair, whereas complete tears of the distal semitendinosus can be successfully treated nonoperatively or with surgical resection.

Future research may be necessary to further optimize treatment of these injuries and to determine the efficacy of biologic adjuvant therapy.