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Jorge A, Lichtenstein E, Faude O, Roth R. Muscle Activity and Kinematics During Three Hamstring Strengthening Exercises Compared to Sprinting: A Cross-Sectional Study. Int J Sports Phys Ther 2024; 19:569-580. [PMID: 38707851 PMCID: PMC11065773 DOI: 10.26603/001c.116158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Background During sprinting, the biceps femoris long head predominantly gets injured, while hamstring strengthening exercises predominantly activate the semitendinosus more effectively. Understanding how joint dominance influences hamstring activity may offer clarity on appropriate exercise selection in strengthening programs. Purpose This study compared three hip-dominant hamstring exercises: the rocker, perpetuum mobile fast and slow (PMfast and PMslow) and the Nordic Hamstring exercise (NHE) on their potential to simulate sprint-like activity and kinematics. Methods Muscle activity of the posterior kinetic chain (biceps femoris, semitendinosus, gluteus maximus, and medial gastrocnemius) was measured with surface electromyography (sEMG) during the exercises and treadmill running at 75% of the individual maximal sprint velocity in male athletes. sEMG data were normalized to maximal sprinting. 3D-motion capture was employed to assess hip and knee angles. Results Eight male athletes were included (age: 24.0 years ± SD 2.9; body mass: 76.8 kg ± 7.7; height: 1.79 m ± 0.08). Greater activity of the hamstrings occurred during the explosive exercises ranging from 63.9% [95%CI: 56.3-71.5%] (rocker) to 49.0% [95%CI: 40.4-57.6%] (PMfast) vs. 34.0% [95%CI: 29.1-38.9%] (NHE) to 32.1% [95%CI: 26.9-37.3%] (PMslow). The rocker showed greatest hamstring and gluteus maximus activity. Biceps femoris consistently showed greater activity than the semitendinosus across all exercises in peak (mean difference: 0.16, [95%CI: 0.07-0.26]) and average (mean difference: 0.06, [95%CI: 0.01-0.11]) activity. PMfast, PMslow and NHE demonstrated less hip flexion angle at peak hamstring activity than the rocker and high-speed running and every exercise showed less hamstring elongation stress than during high-speed running. Discussion Hamstring activity is comparable to high-intensity treadmill running for NHE and PMslow, and greater for the rocker and PMfast. Gluteus maximus activity varied, with the rocker and PMfast showing greater activity than in sprinting. All examined exercises demonstrated their peak activity at short hamstring muscle length. Level of evidence 3b.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adelso Jorge
- Department of Sport, Exercise and HealthUniversity of Basel
| | | | - Oliver Faude
- Department of Sport, Exercise and HealthUniversity of Basel
| | - Ralf Roth
- Department of Sport, Exercise and HealthUniversity of Basel
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Afonso J, Olivares-Jabalera J, Fernandes RJ, Clemente FM, Rocha-Rodrigues S, Claudino JG, Ramirez-Campillo R, Valente C, Andrade R, Espregueira-Mendes J. Effectiveness of Conservative Interventions After Acute Hamstrings Injuries in Athletes: A Living Systematic Review. Sports Med 2023; 53:615-635. [PMID: 36622557 DOI: 10.1007/s40279-022-01783-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hamstrings injuries are common in sports and the reinjury risk is high. Despite the extensive literature on hamstrings injuries, the effectiveness of the different conservative (i.e., non-surgical) interventions (i.e., modalities and doses) for the rehabilitation of athletes with acute hamstrings injuries is unclear. OBJECTIVE We aimed to compare the effects of different conservative interventions in time to return to sport (TRTS) and/or time to return to full training (TRFT) and reinjury-related outcomes after acute hamstrings injuries in athletes. DATA SOURCES We searched CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science databases up to 1 January, 2022, complemented with manual searches, prospective citation tracking, and consultation of external experts. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA The eligibility criteria were multi-arm studies (randomized and non-randomized) that compared conservative treatments of acute hamstrings injuries in athletes. DATA ANALYSIS We summarized the characteristics of included studies and conservative interventions and analyzed data for main outcomes (TRTS, TRFT, and rate of reinjuries). The risk of bias was judged using the Cochrane tools. Quality and completeness of reporting of therapeutic exercise programs were appraised with the i-CONTENT tool and the certainty of evidence was judged using the GRADE framework. TRTS and TRFT were analyzed using mean differences and the risk of reinjury with relative risks. RESULTS Fourteen studies (12 randomized and two non-randomized) comprising 730 athletes (mostly men with ages between 14 and 49 years) from different sports were included. Nine randomized studies were judged at high risk and three at low risk of bias, and the two non-randomized studies were judged at critical risk of bias. Seven randomized studies compared exercise-based interventions (e.g., L-protocol vs C-protocol), one randomized study compared the use of low-level laser therapy, and three randomized and two non-randomized studies compared injections of platelet-rich plasma to placebo or no injection. These low-level laser therapy and platelet-rich plasma studies complemented their interventions with an exercise program. Only three studies were judged at low overall risk of ineffectiveness (i-CONTENT). No single intervention or combination of interventions proved superior in achieving a faster TRTS/TRFT or reducing the risk of reinjury. Only eccentric lengthening exercises showed limited evidence in allowing a shorter TRFT. The platelet-rich plasma treatment did not consistently reduce the TRFT or have any effect on the risk of new hamstrings injuries. The certainty of evidence was very low for all outcomes and comparisons. CONCLUSIONS Available evidence precludes the prioritization of a particular exercise-based intervention for athletes with acute hamstrings injuries, as different exercise-based interventions showed comparable effects on TRTS/TRFT and the risk of reinjuries. Available evidence also does not support the use of platelet-rich plasma or low-level laser therapy in clinical practice. The currently available literature is limited because of the risk of bias, risk of ineffectiveness of exercise protocols (as assessed with the i-CONTENT), and the lack of comparability across existing studies. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD42021268499 and OSF ( https://osf.io/3k4u2/ ).
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Affiliation(s)
- José Afonso
- Centre of Research, Education, Innovation, and Intervention in Sport (CIFI2D), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, R. Dr. Plácido da Costa 91, 4200-450, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Jesús Olivares-Jabalera
- Sport Research Lab, Football Science Institute, Granada, Spain
- Department of Physical and Sports Education, Sport and Health University Research Institute (iMUDS), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Ricardo J Fernandes
- Centre of Research, Education, Innovation, and Intervention in Sport (CIFI2D), Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, R. Dr. Plácido da Costa 91, 4200-450, Porto, Portugal
- Porto Biomechanics Laboratory (LABIOMEP), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Filipe Manuel Clemente
- Escola Superior de Desporto e Lazer, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Viana do Castelo, Portugal
- Delegação da Covilhã, Instituto de Telecomunicações, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Sílvia Rocha-Rodrigues
- Escola Superior de Desporto e Lazer, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Viana do Castelo, Portugal
- Tumor & Microenvironment Interactions Group, INEB-Institute of Biomedical Engineering, i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Research Center in Sports Performance, Recreation, Innovation and Technology (SPRINT), Melgaço, Portugal
| | - João Gustavo Claudino
- Group of Research, Innovation and Technology Applied to Sport (GSporTech), Multi-user Laboratory of the Department of Physical Education (MultiLab of the DPE), Department of Physical Education, Center for Health Sciences, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil
- Department of Physical Education, Center for Health Sciences, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo
- Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences Laboratory, School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Cristina Valente
- Clínica Espregueira - FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, Porto, Portugal
- Dom Henrique Research Centre, Porto, Portugal
| | - Renato Andrade
- Porto Biomechanics Laboratory (LABIOMEP), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
- Clínica Espregueira - FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, Porto, Portugal.
- Dom Henrique Research Centre, Porto, Portugal.
| | - João Espregueira-Mendes
- Clínica Espregueira - FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, Porto, Portugal
- Dom Henrique Research Centre, Porto, Portugal
- School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
- 3B's Research Group Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University of Minho, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805 017, Guimarães, Portugal
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The Epidemiology of Injuries in Spanish Rugby Union División de Honor. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19073882. [PMID: 35409565 PMCID: PMC8997440 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19073882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We describe and analyze injury incidence, severity, cause of injury, anatomical location, damaged tissue, injury recurrence, and the time and place at which injuries occur over the course of a season. METHODS An observational, descriptive, prospective, nomothetic, and multidimensional study was conducted during the 2018-2019 season with 258 players of the top semiprofessional rugby league in Spain (División de Honor de Rugby). Data were reported by the clubs' medical services. Reported time-loss injuries were collected. RESULTS Overall exposure was 4100 h (137 matches), over 35 weeks of competition. A total of 288 injuries were reported, with three of these leading to withdrawal from the sport. A total average of 35.63 days was lost to injury. Overall time-loss injury incidence was 3.41 injuries/1000 h of exposure. Backs suffered 119 injuries corresponding to 3.80 injuries/1000 h of exposure, whilst forwards suffered 169 injuries with 4.27 injuries/1000 h of exposure. Severe injuries were the most frequent injury type. CONCLUSIONS Outcomes confirm that more injuries take place during competition, with these also being more severe in nature. Contact injuries were most frequently suffered, above all, due to tackling or being tackled.
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