Effects of sprint versus strength training on risk factors for hamstring injury in football players

Erin Byrd; Anne Delextrat; Gregory Walsh; Luke Taylor; Alessandro Sancese

doi:10.23736/S0022-4707.22.14529-9

Effects of sprint versus strength training on risk factors for hamstring injury in football players

Erin Byrd
, Anne Delextrat
, Gregory Walsh
, Luke Taylor
, Alessandro Sancese

Oxford Brookes University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)

839 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare the effects of in-season sprint training vs. Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) training on risk factors for hamstring strain injuries (HSI).

METHODS: Eighteen male university football players (20.9±2.5 years; 181±7 cm; 75.8±9.1 kg; 15.2±3.5% of body fat) were randomly allocated to a sprint group or NHE group. They completed baseline isokinetic strength and sprint mechanics assessments prior to their assigned intervention performed twice weekly for 4-weeks, before post-testing. A mixed design ANOVA with repeated measures assessed time, group and interaction effects for all risk factors.

RESULTS: There were significant increases in hamstring eccentric peak torque at 60°·s -1 (+8% - 9.9%), the torque produced at 20° (+15%) and 10° (+21% - 31%), as well as a rightward shift in angle of peak torque towards knee extension (-27% - -36%) in both groups (P<0.05). We also observed a significant increase (+24.5%) in hamstring eccentric peak torque at 180°·s -1 in the strength group only and significant improvements (+29.4%) in the rate of torque development of the dominant leg at 60°·s -1 in the sprint group only (P<0.05). No significant effect was noted on sprint performance or sprint mechanics (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that both training programs can be effective to mitigate the risk of HSI, but through different mechanisms.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	580-587
Number of pages	8
Journal	Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness
Volume	63
Issue number	4
Early online date	18 Jan 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.23736/S0022-4707.22.14529-9
Publication status	Published (in print/issue) - 1 Apr 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors would like to acknowledge all the players who took part in the study and the coach for Oxford Brookes Men’s first football team.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA.

Funding

Funding Information: The authors would like to acknowledge all the players who took part in the study and the coach for Oxford Brookes Men’s first football team. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Athletes
Exercise
Muscle strength
Sports

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10.23736/S0022-4707.22.14529-9

J_Sports_Med_Phys_Fitness_14529_Manuscript_PDF_V2_2022_09_09_1_Author Accepted Manuscript, 1.93 MB

Cite this

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title = "Effects of sprint versus strength training on risk factors for hamstring injury in football players",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare the effects of in-season sprint training vs. Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) training on risk factors for hamstring strain injuries (HSI).METHODS: Eighteen male university football players (20.9±2.5 years; 181±7 cm; 75.8±9.1 kg; 15.2±3.5\% of body fat) were randomly allocated to a sprint group or NHE group. They completed baseline isokinetic strength and sprint mechanics assessments prior to their assigned intervention performed twice weekly for 4-weeks, before post-testing. A mixed design ANOVA with repeated measures assessed time, group and interaction effects for all risk factors.RESULTS: There were significant increases in hamstring eccentric peak torque at 60°·s -1 (+8\% - 9.9\%), the torque produced at 20° (+15\%) and 10° (+21\% - 31\%), as well as a rightward shift in angle of peak torque towards knee extension (-27\% - -36\%) in both groups (P<0.05). We also observed a significant increase (+24.5\%) in hamstring eccentric peak torque at 180°·s -1 in the strength group only and significant improvements (+29.4\%) in the rate of torque development of the dominant leg at 60°·s -1 in the sprint group only (P<0.05). No significant effect was noted on sprint performance or sprint mechanics (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that both training programs can be effective to mitigate the risk of HSI, but through different mechanisms.",

keywords = "Athletes, Exercise, Muscle strength, Sports",

author = "Erin Byrd and Anne Delextrat and Gregory Walsh and Luke Taylor and Alessandro Sancese",

note = "Funding Information: The authors would like to acknowledge all the players who took part in the study and the coach for Oxford Brookes Men{\textquoteright}s first football team. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA.",

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AU - Byrd, Erin

AU - Delextrat, Anne

AU - Walsh, Gregory

AU - Taylor, Luke

AU - Sancese, Alessandro

N1 - Funding Information: The authors would like to acknowledge all the players who took part in the study and the coach for Oxford Brookes Men’s first football team. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA.

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N2 - BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare the effects of in-season sprint training vs. Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) training on risk factors for hamstring strain injuries (HSI).METHODS: Eighteen male university football players (20.9±2.5 years; 181±7 cm; 75.8±9.1 kg; 15.2±3.5% of body fat) were randomly allocated to a sprint group or NHE group. They completed baseline isokinetic strength and sprint mechanics assessments prior to their assigned intervention performed twice weekly for 4-weeks, before post-testing. A mixed design ANOVA with repeated measures assessed time, group and interaction effects for all risk factors.RESULTS: There were significant increases in hamstring eccentric peak torque at 60°·s -1 (+8% - 9.9%), the torque produced at 20° (+15%) and 10° (+21% - 31%), as well as a rightward shift in angle of peak torque towards knee extension (-27% - -36%) in both groups (P<0.05). We also observed a significant increase (+24.5%) in hamstring eccentric peak torque at 180°·s -1 in the strength group only and significant improvements (+29.4%) in the rate of torque development of the dominant leg at 60°·s -1 in the sprint group only (P<0.05). No significant effect was noted on sprint performance or sprint mechanics (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that both training programs can be effective to mitigate the risk of HSI, but through different mechanisms.

AB - BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare the effects of in-season sprint training vs. Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) training on risk factors for hamstring strain injuries (HSI).METHODS: Eighteen male university football players (20.9±2.5 years; 181±7 cm; 75.8±9.1 kg; 15.2±3.5% of body fat) were randomly allocated to a sprint group or NHE group. They completed baseline isokinetic strength and sprint mechanics assessments prior to their assigned intervention performed twice weekly for 4-weeks, before post-testing. A mixed design ANOVA with repeated measures assessed time, group and interaction effects for all risk factors.RESULTS: There were significant increases in hamstring eccentric peak torque at 60°·s -1 (+8% - 9.9%), the torque produced at 20° (+15%) and 10° (+21% - 31%), as well as a rightward shift in angle of peak torque towards knee extension (-27% - -36%) in both groups (P<0.05). We also observed a significant increase (+24.5%) in hamstring eccentric peak torque at 180°·s -1 in the strength group only and significant improvements (+29.4%) in the rate of torque development of the dominant leg at 60°·s -1 in the sprint group only (P<0.05). No significant effect was noted on sprint performance or sprint mechanics (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that both training programs can be effective to mitigate the risk of HSI, but through different mechanisms.

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KW - Exercise

KW - Muscle strength

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SN - 0022-4707

VL - 63

SP - 580

EP - 587

JO - Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness

JF - Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness

IS - 4

ER -

Effects of sprint versus strength training on risk factors for hamstring injury in football players

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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