Opar, David A., Williams, Morgan D., Timmins, Ryan G., Hickey, Jack, Duhig, Steven J. and Shield, Anthony J. (2015) The Effect of Previous Hamstring Strain Injuries on the Change in Eccentric Hamstring Strength During Preseason Training in Elite Australian Footballers. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 43 (2). pp. 377-384. ISSN 0363-5465
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Abstract
Background: Hamstring strain injuries (HSIs) are the most common injury type in Australian football, and the rate of recurrence
has been consistently high for a number of years. Long-lasting neuromuscular inhibition has been noted in previously injured athletes, but it is not known if this influences the athlete’s adaptive response to training.
Purpose: To determine if elite Australian footballers with a prior unilateral HSI (previously injured group) display less improvement
in eccentric hamstring strength during preseason training compared with athletes without a history of HSIs (control group).
Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.
Methods: A total of 99 elite Australian footballers (17 with a history of unilateral HSIs in the previous 12-month period) participated
in this study. Eccentric hamstring strength was assessed at the start and end of preseason training using an instrumented Nordic
hamstring device. The change in eccentric strength across the preseason was determined in absolute terms and normalized to
the start of preseason strength. The start of preseason strength was used as a covariate to control for differences in starting
strength.
Results: The left and right limbs in the control group showed no difference in absolute or relative change (left limb: 60.7 6 72.9 N
and 1.28 6 0.34 N, respectively; right limb: 48.6 6 83.8 N and 1.24 6 0.43 N, respectively). Similarly, the injured and uninjured
limbs in the previously injured group showed no difference in either absolute or relative change (injured limb: 13.1 6 57.7 N and
1.07 6 0.18 N, respectively; uninjured limb: 14.7 6 54.0 N and 1.07 6 0.22 N, respectively). The previously injured group displayed significantly less increase in eccentric hamstring strength across the preseason (absolute change, 13.9 6 55.0 N; relative
change, 1.07 6 0.20 N) compared with the control group (absolute change, 54.6 6 78.5 N; relative change, 1.26 6 0.39 N) for both
absolute and relative measures (P \ .001), even after controlling for differences in the start of preseason eccentric hamstring
strength, which had a significant effect on strength improvement.
Conclusion: Elite Australian footballers with a unilateral history of HSIs displayed less improvement in eccentric hamstring
strength across preseason training. The smaller improvements were not restricted to the previously injured limb as the contra-lateral limb also displayed similarly small improvements in eccentric strength. Whether this is the cause of or the result of an injury
remains to be seen, but it has the potential to contribute to the risk of hamstring strain reinjuries.
Item Type: | Article |
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Keywords: | hamstring; muscle injury; eccentric strength; Nordic hamstring exercise; |
Academic Unit: | Faculty of Science and Engineering > Sports Science and Nutrition |
Item ID: | 17919 |
Identification Number: | 10.1177/0363546514556638 |
Depositing User: | Jack Hickey |
Date Deposited: | 08 Dec 2023 15:07 |
Journal or Publication Title: | The American Journal of Sports Medicine |
Publisher: | SAGE Publications |
Refereed: | Yes |
Related URLs: | |
URI: | https://mu.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/17919 |
Use Licence: | This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here |
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