Eccentric knee flexor strength profiles of 341 elite male academy and senior Gaelic football players: Do body mass and previous hamstring injury impact performance?

Report eccentric knee flexor strength values of elite Gaelic football players from underage to adult level whilst examining the influence of body mass and previous hamstring injury. Cross-sectional study. Team's training facility. Elite Gaelic football players (n = 341) from under 14 years to senior age-grades were recruited from twelve teams. Absolute (N) and relative (N·kg ) eccentric hamstring strength as well as corresponding between-limb imbalances (%) were calculated for all players. Mean maximum force was 329.4N (95% CI 319.5-340.2) per limb. No statistically significant differences were observed in relative force values (4.4 N ·kg , 95% CI 4.2-4.5) between age-groups. Body mass had moderate-to-large and weak associations with maximum force in youth (r = 0.597) and adult (r =0 .159) players, respectively. Overall 40% (95 CI 31.4-48.7) presented with a maximum strength between-limb imbalance >10%. Players with a hamstring injury had greater relative maximum force (9.3%, 95% CI 7.0-11.8; p > 0.05) and a 28% (95% CI 10.0-38.0) higher prevalence of between-limb imbalances ≥15% compared to their uninjured counterparts. Overlapping strength profiles across age-groups, combined with greater strength in previously injured players, suggests difficulties for establishing cut-off thresholds associated with hamstring injury risk. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The effect of a vastus lateralis tape on muscle activity during stair climbing

Recently taping techniques with the primary purpose of altering muscle activity have become a part of clinical physiotherapy practice. A firmly applied tape across the fibres of the vastus lateralis (VL) muscle has been proposed to decrease the VL muscle activity. The primary aim of this study was to assess the effects of an inhibitory muscle tape applied over the vastus lateralis (VL) muscle during stair climbing. Twenty five subjects without lower limb pathology were recruited. Normalised integrated EMG (IEMG) was analysed from VL, vastus medialis obliquus (VMO), biceps femoris (BF) and soleus muscles during stair climbing. The subjects were assessed during three conditions: no tape (untaped), (no tension) control tape and (tensioned tape) VL inhibitory taping application. There was a significant decrease (p 0.05) were noted in any of the other muscles assessed. The results demonstrated that there was a significant decrease in the IEMG of the VL both during stair ascent and descent with VL inhibitory tape and control tape applied in normal subject

It’s not all about sprinting. Mechanisms of acute hamstring strain injuries in professional male rugby union: a systematic visual video analysis

Objectives: The mechanisms of hamstring strain injuries (HSIs) in professional Rugby Union are not well understood. The aim of this study was to describe the mechanisms of HSIs in male professional Rugby Union players using video analysis. Methods: All time-loss acute HSIs identified via retrospective analysis of the Leinster Rugby injury surveillance database across the 2015/16 to 2017/18 seasons were considered as potentially eligible for inclusion. Three Chartered Physiotherapists (analysts) independently assessed all videos with a consensus meeting convened to describe the injury mechanisms. The determination of the injury mechanisms was based upon an inductive process informed by a critical review of HSI mechanism literature (including kinematics, kinetics and muscle activity). One of the analysts also developed a qualitative description of each injury mechanism. Results: Seventeen acute HSIs were included in this study. Twelve per cent of the injuries were sustained during training with the remainder sustained during match- play. One HSI occurred due to direct contact to the injured muscle. The remainder were classified as indirect contact (i.e., contact to another body region) or non- contact. These HSIs were sustained during five distinct actions – ‘running’ (47%), ‘decelerating’ (18%), ‘kicking’ (6%), during a ‘tackle’ (6%) and ‘rucking’ (18%). The most common biomechanical presentation of the injured limb was characterized by trunk flexion with concomitant active knee extension (76%). Fifty per cent of cases also involved ipsilateral trunk rotation. Conclusion: HSIs in this study of Rugby Union were sustained during a number of playing situations and not just during sprinting. We identified a number of injury mechanisms including: ‘running’, ‘decelerating’, ‘kicking’, ‘tackle’, ‘rucking’ and ‘direct trauma’. Hamstring muscle lengthening, characterised by trunk flexion and relative knee extension appear to be a fundamental characteristic of the mechanisms of acute HSIs in Rugby Union

Rehabilitative ultrasound measurement of trapezius muscle contractile states in people with mild shoulder pain." Man Ther 17(2

a b s t r a c t Introduction: The utility of rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) for assessing trapezius muscle contractile characteristics was investigated by examining whether muscle thickness changes during contraction (CT) differed between people with and without mild shoulder pain. Methods: In 18 subjects with mild shoulder pain (aged 28 AE 8 years) and 18 matched controls, trapezius muscle thickness change was measured in prone at rest at 0 and during isometric CTs at 90 and 120 of shoulder abduction. Images were taken at four sites using a real-time ultrasound scanner (7-MHz linear transducer, 40 mm footprint). Percentage change in muscle thickness from rest was calculated. Differences between painful and non-painful shoulders and participant groups were examined by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and t-tests. Results: There were no significant differences between groups or sides in trapezius muscle thickness change during CT. There was no significant difference in trapezius muscle resting thickness (RT) between painful and non-painful shoulders in the same subjects. Conclusion: Contractile ability of the trapezius muscle, assessed using RUSI was not impaired in subjects with mild shoulder pain during the test manoeuvres used. Further research is warranted involving patients with different severity of symptoms, using other test manoeuvres before RUSI can be advocated for assessing scapular muscle dysfunction

The ability of athletes with long-standing groin pain to maintain a stable lumbopelvic position: A laboratory study

Objectives: The ability to maintain a lumbopelvic position (LPP) was assessed in athletes with a history of long-standing groin pain (LSGP) and athletes without LSGP. Design: Case-control study. Setting: University motion analysis laboratory. Participants: Thirty male athletes–15 with a history of LSGP (>12 weeks) and 15 without. Main outcome measures: Maintenance of LPP was assessed using a pressure biofeedback unit (PBU) during supine single leg lift (SLL), single leg extension (SLE) and bent knee fallout (BKFO). Repeatability was assessed using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) and group differences analysed using MANOVA. Results: Differences were detected between involved and uninvolved sides in the LSGP group during SLL (mean difference [md] = 9.82 mmHg, p < 0.01) and BKFO (md = 8.56 mmHg, p < 0.01) but not during SLE (md = 0.38 mmHg, p = 0.96). Between group differences were found during the SLL of the involved leg (md = 5.22 mmHg p = 0.034) and the BKFO of the uninvolved leg (md = 6.22 mmHg p = 0.017). Inter-session reliability varied for the different movement tasks in both groups (ICC = 0.35–0.94). Conclusions: Ability to maintain LPP differed between the involved and uninvolved legs within the LSGP group and between the athletes with and without LSGP. Despite resolution of groin pain, altered control of lumbopelvic position existed with possible implications for later injury recurrence.NH

Quantifying show jumping horse rider expertise using IMUs

Presented at the 32nd Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society "Merging Medical Humanism and Technology", August 31 2010-September 4 2010, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaHorse rider ability has long been measured using horse performance, competition results and visual observation. Scientific methods of measuring rider ability on the flat are emerging such as measuring position angles and harmony of the horse-rider system. To date no research has quantified rider ability in show jumping. Kinematic analysis and motion sensors have been used in sports other than show jumping to measure the quality of motor control patterns in humans. The aim of this study was to quantify rider ability in show jumping using body-mounted IMUs. Preliminary results indicate that there are clear differences in experienced and novice riders during show jumping.Science Foundation IrelandConference websitehttp://embc2010.embs.org

Intramuscular Tendon Injuries of the Hamstring Muscles: A More Severe Variant? A Narrative Review

Abstract Hamstring strain injuries (HSI) are one of the most common sport-related injuries. They have a high injury burden and a high recurrence rate. The development of novel muscle injury grading systems has provided new insights into the possible impact of injury location on the time to return to play (TTRTP) and re-injury following HSI. In particular, injuries to the intramuscular tendon (IMT) may be present in up to 41% of all HSI and have been described as a ‘serious thigh muscle strain’. Re-injury rates as high as 60% have been described in elite track and field athletes, as well as prolonged TTRTP. A systematic search was carried out using appropriate keywords to identify articles reporting on HSI involving the IMT in athletes. The primary aim was to determine whether IMT injuries warrant being classified as a distinct clinical entity with different expected outcomes to other hamstring muscle injuries. This narrative review summarises the existing evidence on: (1) the anatomy of the IMT and its response to injury; (2) the role of MRI and novel grading scales in IMT injury management (3) clinical assessment of IMT injuries, (4) TTRTP and re-injury rates across sports following IMT, (5) conservative rehabilitation and the role of specific ‘IMT-oriented’ strategies, and (6) indications for and approaches to surgery. The review found that important clinical outcomes such as re-injury rates and TTRTP vary across populations, cohorts and sports which suggest that outcomes are specific to the sporting context. Bespoke rehabilitation, tailored to IMT injury, has been shown to significantly reduce re-injuries in elite track and field athletes, without compromising TTRTP. Continued prospective studies across other sports and cohorts, are warranted to further establish relevant clinical findings, indications for surgical intervention and outcomes across other sporting cohorts