College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia (CMTBC) Practice Exam

Which muscle is likely injured when a soccer player executes a long shot and injures her hamstring?

1. Adductor longus

2. Biceps femoris, short head

3. Gracilis

4. Semitendinosus

The correct answer is: Semitendinosus

In the context of a soccer player executing a long shot, the muscles that may be involved in the act of kicking include several components of the hamstring group. Among these muscles, the semitendinosus plays a crucial role in the action of hip flexion and knee extension that occurs during a powerful kick. The hamstring group primarily consists of three muscles: the semitendinosus, semimembranosus, and biceps femoris. The semitendinosus muscle, in particular, is located on the medial side of the posterior thigh and is involved in both hip extension and knee flexion. Given the dynamic movements involved in taking a long shot—such as rapid acceleration, deceleration, and extension of the hip and knee—this muscle is at high risk for strain or injury. The mechanism behind the injury generally arises from the muscle lengthening under tension during the follow-through phase of the kick, which can lead to overloading the muscle fibers, potentially causing a strain. Thus, the semitendinosus's involvement in both the initial kick and the follow-through makes it a likely candidate for injury in this scenario. The other muscles mentioned, while they may have functional roles in lower limb movements,