The aim of this study protocol is to describe the rationale and methodology for evaluating the effect of using therapeutic exercises and ultrasound in the rehabilitation of partially injured hamstring muscles on elite football players.

Hamstring muscle injuries are common among highly active individuals. Modern Football is a challenging sport characterized by extremely dynamic and cyclical game motions including numerous bouts of high-speed movements such as accelerating, jumping, and change in direction, all of which are carried out at a high level of physical and technical difficulty. The most common reason for hamstring muscle injury is high-performance intensity. In addition, neuromuscular fatigue, athlete aging, low muscle strength, and hamstring muscle flexibility are also risk factors for hamstring muscle injuries. On the other hand, the main causes of repetition injury to the same muscle are the presence of a previous injury, the size of the muscle tear and the lessening of the long head muscle bundles of the biceps femoris

Inclusion criteria:

• Players from the eight clubs in the Iraqi Football League

• Partially strained hamstring muscle pain when training football or playing a match, identified as:

  a. Player reported sudden pain in hamstring muscle c. Without any additional ailment.

• Based on the clinical signs and symptoms, defined as:

  1. Localised pain when palpating of hamstring muscle
  2. Localised pain from at least one of the following activities: The Extender, The Diver, and The Glider.

• MRI-confirmed of partially injured hamstring

• Available for follow-up

Exclusion criteria:

• Players with other injuries apart from hamstring injuries
• Players with a recent six-month history of a verified or suspected hamstring injury in the same leg.
• injured players who are already taking part in another rehabilitation program
• General contraindications for MRI

Male