Chris Paul, basketball star with the Houston Rockets, was diagnosed with a hamstring strain (partial muscle tear) on December 20th, 2018 (See strain for more details). The strain was described as grade 2, which is a moderate amount of muscle tearing without a complete tear.  

Paul injured his hamstring after a quick cut.  The planted foot causes stretching of a contracting muscle (referred to as an eccentric contraction), which tears some of the muscle fibers. Paul grabbed the back of his leg immediately. He had an MRI, which as we point out repeatedly on this site, is not particularly helpful and would not be done for the average person.  It’s not entirely clear why nearly every injury in a professional athlete gets an MRI. It’s helpful to keep in mind the downsides of testing.

A muscle strain heals naturally, but can take some time. Treatments just alleviate symptoms and keep the muscle limber and conditioned. Paul will be reevaluated for potential return to play 2 weeks after the initial injury. The plan for return to play typically depends on the comfort and effectiveness of the player.