The Sports Physical Therapy Podcast · Mike Reinold

Hamstring Strains with Holly Silvers - Episode 33

·49 min·3 clips

EMG can show a player is strong on paper but still have a neurological deficit that changes return-to-play decisions.

1. The Sports Physical Therapy Podcast episode centers on hamstring strains with Holly Silvers and Mike Reinald. 2. Holly Silvers is a PT, PhD in Santa Monica, California, a member of the U.S. soccer medical team, and chair of the MLS soccer research committee. 3. The episode asks why hamstring strains stay common, recur, and escape prevention and rehab plans. 4. Holly traces her path from Kearney, New Jersey, where many first-generation families played soccer and her U7 to U12 coach had played for Celtic. 5. She says Tony Miola, her brother-in-law and the U.S. goalkeeper, helped spark her ACL prevention work after a U.S.-Mexico match at Azteca. 6. Burt Manabom invited her to meet every Tuesday at 6:45 and discuss ACL injury prevention. 7. An LA84 Foundation grant after the 1984 Olympics started the ACL prevention work that has continued for 23 years. 8. Holly says she still does at least 30 hours of clinical work each week and values hands-on patient care. 9. She says she practiced for 17 years before returning for a PhD at the University of Delaware with Lynn Snyder-Mackler. 10. Holly describes her current work with Major League Soccer, the NFL, and research calls that vary by season. 11. She says hamstring strains are Major League Soccer’s biggest time-loss injury and remain a persistent problem. 12. She cites Jan Ekstrand’s Champions League analysis showing hamstring injuries remain high and are increasing. 13. She says prior injury is a weak explanation because higher exposure makes that risk factor partly redundant. 14. Holly notes that many MLS rookies are vulnerable because their load can nearly triple in one year. 15. She points to glute underactivity and anterior pelvic tilt as reasons hamstrings may be overworking in standing and movement. 16. She says strength tests can look normal while EMG still shows deficits, especially when fatigue or motor control issues appear. 17. Holly describes the conversation as a clinical, collaborative interview with detailed case examples and practical testing ideas. 18. Mike Reinald pushes for specifics on EMG, return-to-play, and prevention, while Holly answers in a methodical teaching style. 19. People managing hamstring rehab, soccer performance, or sports PT testing will get the most from this episode. 20. Listeners wanting celebrity gossip or a quick general overview may skip it.

As heard by us

A practical look at hamstring rehab and what may still be missing.

This episode treats hamstring strains with practical sports medicine, focusing on why they happen, why they keep coming back, and what still falls short in prevention and rehab.

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Why you'd press play

You want a sharper read on hamstring strains in real sports settings.

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