Abstract
Full training but not full function: Isometric hamstring strength deficits identified up to three years following injury in Australian Football athletes
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Vol.21(Supplement 1), p.S33
Sports Medicine Australia Conference, 2018 (Perth, Australia, 10-Oct-2018 - 13-Oct-2018)
2018
Abstract
Introduction: Reduced pre-season measures of concentric and eccentric hamstring strength have been identified as risk factors for future hamstring injury in soccer and Australian Football. The subsequent implementation of eccentric strength interventions has been shown to modulate this risk. However, the use of standalone pre-season assessments to predict future injury have been questioned with screening now advocated for the identification of existing and persisting deficits which may limit current sports participation. This concept is defined as tertiary prevention - assessments and interventions aimed at identification of persisting deficits following injury which may result in future complications such as recurrence or subsequent injury. The aim of this study was to use a simple and inexpensive method to evaluate unilateral isometric hamstring strength in Australian Football athletes with and without a past-history of hamstring muscle injury sustained within the previous three seasons. This information may inform the implementation of tertiary prevention strategies. Methods: This case-control study recruited 37 male semiprofessional Australian Football athletes (mean±SD; age, 20.2±2.9 y; height, 1.7±0.5 m; mass, 81±9.2 kg), 10 (27%) of which reported a past-history of hamstring muscle strain injury between 1 and 3 competitive seasons prior. All participants had been fully training for a minimum of one month prior to testing which was conducted during the pre-season, one week prior to the commencement of the season proper. Following collection of injury history and anthropometric data (height, mass, lever length) athletes underwent externally fixated maximal voluntary isometric knee flexion strength assessment using a previously published protocol with established reliability. A backwards stepwise linear mixed model was applied to compare athletes with a without a past-history of hamstring injury. Results: Peak isometric knee flexion force, torque and torque normalised to body mass were all significantly reduced in athletes who reported a past-history of hamstring muscle injury (coefficient, 95% CI) (-44.8 N, -86.3 to -3.3 N), (-22.2 Nm, -40.5 to -3.7 Nm) and (-0.2 Nm kg-1, -0.4 to 0.0 Nm kg-1) respectively. Knee flexion peak torque normalised to body mass approached significance as a test able to differentiate athletes with a history of HSI (p = 0.068). Discussion: Semi-professional Australian Football athletes who had sustained a hamstring muscle injury between one and three seasons prior to testing demonstrated significantly reduced hamstring strength. These deficits were evident despite full participation in training. Evaluation of unilateral isometric hamstring strength using these methods is a clinically feasible option that may be used to inform tertiary prevention strategies.
Details
- Title
- Full training but not full function: Isometric hamstring strength deficits identified up to three years following injury in Australian Football athletes
- Authors
- Paula Charlton (Author) - Australian Institute of SportB Raysmith (Author) - Australian Institute of SportM Wollin (Author) - Australian Institute of SportS Rice (Author) - Australian Capital Territory Institute of SportC Purdam (Author) - Australian Institute of SportRoss Clark (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringM Drew (Author) - Australian Institute of Sport
- Publication details
- Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Vol.21(Supplement 1), p.S33
- Conference details
- Sports Medicine Australia Conference, 2018 (Perth, Australia, 10-Oct-2018 - 13-Oct-2018)
- Publisher
- Elsevier Australia
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jsams.2018.09.076
- ISSN
- 1440-2440
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; School of Health - Public Health
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450768102621
- Output Type
- Abstract
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