In athletes, muscle injuries are very common. Although in most cases they are minor injuries, inadequate treatment can cause long-term pain and discomfort, limiting the athlete’s activity. Although muscle injuries occur most frequently in athletes, they can affect anyone. Muscle injuries tend to occur in muscles that execute powerful eccentric contractions (contraction as the muscle lengthens), bi-articular muscles (originating and inserting at two different joints) and in those formed mainly by fast and explosive activation fibres. The most common injuries occur in the muscle region (hamstring and rectus femoris). The biceps femoris is the muscle that is most affected by these injuries, followed by the rectus femoris and the inner calf. This is because the biceps femoris and the rectus femoris are the most injury-prone muscles in football, the most licensed sport in the world.

A correct diagnosis with ultrasound or MRI is required. 95% of injuries are treated conservatively. Progressive physiotherapy and rehabilitation help the muscle to recover optimally. Biological therapies could be helpful for an optimal recovery.