Preventing Hamstring Injuries in Sport

Brughelli M, Cronin  J

Summary
Hamstring injuries can be devastating for athletes and sports teams. Recent advances in technology have greatly enhanced our understanding of how and why hamstring injuries occur. Based on this information, professional sports teams have implemented various training interventions in an attempt to reduce the rate of hamstring injuries with varying success. Reviewing the recent literature on hamstring injuries and the studies that have reported decreases in injury rates could give further insight into how hamstring injures can be prevented and thus is the focus of this article.

CONCLUSIONS

Hamstring injury rates can be reduced if an appropriate eccentric exercise protocol is followed. The exercises presented in this article have been developed based on the current literature that has shown increases in optimum length of tension development and reductions in hamstring injury rates. In addition to the reductions in injuries, a few studies have reported that hamstring injuries were less severe after an eccentric exercise protocol. Furthermore, the inclusion of such eccentric exercises may accelerate the recovery from hamstring injury and return to play. Both contentions, however, must be monitored in some fashion to be certain of the efficacy of the inclusion of eccentric exercises. These new and alternative exercises are not meant to replace any other modes or methods of training. Instead, they can simply be added to current training programs. The addition of 2 eccentric exercises per week (1 per session) should be an easy adjustment to the training program, which could lead to dramatic decreases in muscle strain injury rates.

Strength and Conditioning Journal:Volume 30(1)February 2008pp 55-64 – abstract

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Filed under: Exercise, Injuries, Prevention, Soft-tissue injuries