Grade 3 hamstring strain is defined by an AKE deficit of what range?

Grade 3 hamstring strain is defined by an AKE deficit of what range?

• A. <15%
• B. 16-25%
• C. 26-35%
• D. 0-5%

Answer: (C)

Active Knee Extension deficit shows how much the hamstring injury reduces the ability to actively straighten the knee. A larger deficit means more damage to the muscle–tendon unit and a more severe injury. Grade 3 is the high-grade, most severe end of the spectrum, and it typically presents with a substantial AKE deficit—in practical terms, roughly a quarter to a third of normal knee extension cannot be achieved. That is why the large deficit best fits this grade. Smaller deficits reflect milder injuries where extension is nearer to normal.

Active Knee Extension deficit shows how much the hamstring injury reduces the ability to actively straighten the knee. A larger deficit means more damage to the muscle–tendon unit and a more severe injury. Grade 3 is the high-grade, most severe end of the spectrum, and it typically presents with a substantial AKE deficit—in practical terms, roughly a quarter to a third of normal knee extension cannot be achieved. That is why the large deficit best fits this grade. Smaller deficits reflect milder injuries where extension is nearer to normal.