Psycho-social-contextual factors in return to sport after hamstring strain injuries: a scoping review (bmjopensem.bmj.com)

• 10 studies identified; psychological factors most frequently reported (9/10 studies).
• Social factors least explored; hierarchical pressures from coaches/club staff noted.
• Contextual factors include season timing, resource constraints, and unrestricted training sessions.
• Psychological readiness defined inconsistently and rarely assessed with validated tools.

"This scoping review mapped psychological, social, and contextual factors influencing return to sport (RTS) after hamstring strain injuries (HSI). Seven databases were searched up to September 2025; 10 studies (663 participants, mostly elite football) were included. Three domains emerged: psychological (anxiety, fear, self-perceived readiness, motivation, self-efficacy), social (therapeutic alliance, communication, hierarchical pressures), and contextual (season timing, resource availability). Psychological readiness was inconsistently defined and informally assessed. The review concludes that structured psychosocial screening and shared decision-making are needed to improve RTS outcomes."