{
  "abstract": "Background\n\nAthletic hamstring injuries (AHSI) remain a persistent challenge because recurrence is common and clinical decisions often depend on incomplete evidence. This consensus statement is intended to give clinicians a practical, unified framework for classification, rehabilitation, and return to sport after athletic hamstring injury. The purpose of this study was to achieve expert consensus on the management of athletic hamstring injuries through a structured, scientific survey approach.Study design\n\nDelphi Survey.Methods\n\nA modified Delphi process, aligned with CREDES guidelines, was conducted with an expert panel of sports physical therapists identified as having specific expertise in AHSI from the ICCUS Society. Consensus was defined a priori as at least 80% agreement or disagreement on a 5-point Likert scale. Statements addressed three areas: AHSI examination and classification, rehabilitation and management, and return to sport (RTS) testing.Results\n\nSixty statements were developed across three domains. Seventeen experienced clinicians completed the final round. Overall, 54 statements reached consensus, with a mean Likert score of 4.56 ± 0.37 out of 5 (strongly agree), and mean agreement of 89.88% ± 12.1%. Experts supported standardized terminology, MRI and the use of diagnostic ultrasound for diagnosis when appropriate, individualized and criterion-based rehabilitation, progressive tissue loading and length restoration, early neuromuscular control, gradual running and agility progression, progression to pain-free sprinting, objective strength assessment, sport-specific workloads, and athlete readiness as key RTS criteria.Discussion\n\nThe findings emphasize active rehabilitation guided by measurable progress rather than reliance on fixed thresholds. Clinicians should combine injury classification, functional presentation, symptom response, objective testing, sport demands, and athlete confidence when advancing rehabilitation and making RTS decisions.Conclusion\n\nThis ICCUS Society consensus statement offers a practical roadmap for managing AHSI: classify clearly, load progressively, monitor symptoms, test objectively, and return athletes only when sport-specific running, sprinting, strength, training tolerance, and readiness align.Level of evidence\n\n4.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Vegas Golden Knights.",
    "Jacksonville Jaguars Football Club.",
    "Department of Physical Therapy University of Kentucky.",
    "NovaCare Rehabilitation/University of Cincinnati.",
    "Wichita State University/Ascencion Via Christi.",
    "Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University.",
    "Director of Research Major League Soccer.",
    "Nicholas Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma.",
    "School of Physical Therapy Belmont University.",
    "New York Giants.",
    "Champion Sports Medicine."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 11,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Brandon Gilliam"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Pete Draovitch"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Terry Malone"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Bob Mangine"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Robert Manske"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Phil Page",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-7510-9372"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Holly Silver-Granelli"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Timothy F Tyler"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        8
      ],
      "name": "Michael L Voight"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        9
      ],
      "name": "Leigh J Weiss"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        10
      ],
      "name": "Kevin E Wilk"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1w0v6svm669zn.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.26603/001c.172912",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13727015/?tool=EBI",
  "id": "1w0v6svm669zn",
  "issns": [
    "2159-2896"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13727015",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Original Research"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2732|Sports injuries and prevention"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7225005362",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13727015/pdf/?tool=EBI",
  "pmcid": "PMC13727015",
  "pmid": "42974573",
  "published": "2026-11-02",
  "publisher": "North American Sports Medicine Institute",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1w0v6svm669zn.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-03T15:20:51Z",
      "native_id": "PMC:PMC13727015",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13727015"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-04T15:20:47Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42974573",
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      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42974573"
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    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-05T12:23:13Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13727015",
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2732|Sports injuries and prevention",
      "subfield": "surgery"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Diagnosis, Rehabilitation, and Return to Sport after Athletic Hamstring Injury: An ICCUS Society Consensus Statement",
  "title_text": "Diagnosis, Rehabilitation, and Return to Sport after Athletic Hamstring Injury: An ICCUS Society Consensus Statement",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-06T12:22:49Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1w0v6svm669zn",
  "venue": "International journal of sports physical therapy",
  "versions": []
}