Mark Roe1, Shane Malone2, Eamonn Delahunt3, Kieran Collins4, Conor Gissane5, Ulrik McCarthy Persson6, John C Murphy7, Catherine Blake6. 1. School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: mark.roe@ucd.ie. 2. Gaelic Sports Research Centre, Department of Science, Institute of Technology Tallaght, Ireland; Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, UK. 3. School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Ireland; Institute for Sport and Health, University College Dublin, Ireland. 4. Gaelic Sports Research Centre, Department of Science, Institute of Technology Tallaght, Ireland. 5. School of Sport, Health and Applied Science, St Mary's University, UK. 6. School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Ireland. 7. Medfit Proactive Healthcare, Dublin, Ireland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: 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. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Team's training facility. PARTICIPANTS: Elite Gaelic football players (n = 341) from under 14 years to senior age-grades were recruited from twelve teams. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Absolute (N) and relative (N·kg-1) eccentric hamstring strength as well as corresponding between-limb imbalances (%) were calculated for all players. RESULTS: 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-1, 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. CONCLUSIONS: 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.
OBJECTIVE: 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. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Team's training facility. PARTICIPANTS: Elite Gaelic football players (n = 341) from under 14 years to senior age-grades were recruited from twelve teams. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Absolute (N) and relative (N·kg-1) eccentric hamstring strength as well as corresponding between-limb imbalances (%) were calculated for all players. RESULTS: 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-1, 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. CONCLUSIONS: 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.
Authors: Christa M Wille; Mikel R Stiffler-Joachim; Stephanie A Kliethermes; Jennifer L Sanfilippo; Claire S Tanaka; Bryan C Heiderscheit Journal: Med Sci Sports Exerc Date: 2022-04-13
Authors: Benjamin Drury; Sébastien Ratel; Cain C T Clark; John F T Fernandes; Jason Moran; David G Behm Journal: J Funct Morphol Kinesiol Date: 2019-11-28