Sports Nutrition and Supplements

Pathophysiology of Musculoskeletal Injuries

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Skeletal muscle injuries are a common occurrence, especially during sporting activities. For example, hamstring strains accounted for 21% of injuries reported during two seasons of professional English football. The most common injuries reported in rugby league are also musculotendinous injuries to the lower limbs with hamstring and groin injuries making up 8.0–19.7% of all reported injuries. An understanding of the pathophysiology of muscle injury and repair is essential in order to provide the optimum treatment interventions and to limit injury or re-injury to a muscle. Reducing the risk of reinjury is an essential component of the rehabilitative process, as musculoskeletal injuries such as hamstring strains are compounded by a high recurrence rate of 12–31% with approximately 1 in 13 athletes re-injuring within the first year of return to sport.