Non-surgical management of proximal hamstring injury in an Olympic judo gold medalist: a case report
Gjakova, N., Berisha, M., Davitt, T., Mikl, S., Bartik, P., Sagat, P., &Prieto-González, P. (2026). Non-surgical management of proximal hamstring injury in an olympic judo gold medalist: a case report. Retos, 78, 140-150.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: To describe the clinical outcomes of conservative treatment in a high-level judo ath-lete with a proximal hamstringruptureand partial adductor rupture. Methods:This case report study evaluated a 32-year-old Olympic judo champion who sustained a proximal hamstring rupture and partial adductor tear five months before the Paris 2024 Olympics. MRI confirmed the diagnosis six days post-injury. Hamstring strength asymmetry was assessed using the ActivForce2 dynamometer (pre-test) and the Biodex system (post-test). A three-phase conservative rehabilitation protocol was implemented over three weeks, com-bining soft-tissue therapies, progressive strength training, and sport-specific drills.Results:Hamstring strength asymmetry decreased from 78.7% (day 6 post-injury) to 21.9-29.7% post-treatment. MRI demonstrated 70-80% structural recovery with reduced inflamma-tion and improved tissue integrity. Agonist-antagonist ratios were bilaterally comparable and increased with angular velocity (62% to79%). The athlete returned to international competi-tion without reinjury, maintaining Olympic qualification and top-8 seeding.Conclusion: Conservative management reducedlimb asymmetry, improved judo performance, and enabled an unrestricted return to full training and elite-level competitionin this high-level judo athlete, supporting its consideration as a viable initial treatment approach for proximal hamstring ruptures. While this case demonstrates excellent clinical and functional recovery, the persistent risk of reinjury highlights the need for rigorous long-term monitoring and individu-alized rehabilitation protocols.
Keywords: Conservative therapy; judo; olympic sports medicine; partial adductor rupture; proximal ham-string partial rupture; recovery time
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