Search

Introduction: Hamstring strain injuries (HSI) are one of the most common injuries for soccer players and there is a need for new clinical-based studies on the rehabilitation of these injuries. Objective: This study aimed to create a consensus on physiotherapy and rehabilitation approaches used in HSI by physiotherapists with super league experience in Turkey. Methods: Twenty-six male physiotherapists (duration of experience in professional life, on athlete health, and in the super league: 12.84 ± 6.04 years, 12.19 ± 5.96 years, 8.71 ± 5.31 years, respectively) from different institutions participated in the study. The research was carried out in three rounds using the Delphi method. Results: Data collected using LimeSurvey and Google Forms were analyzed using the Microsoft Excel and SPSS 22 software. The response rates over the three rounds were 100%, 96%, and 96%, respectively. The 10 main items that were agreed upon in Round 1 were divided into 93 sub-items. Their numbers in the second and third Rounds were 60 and 53, respectively. At the end of Round 3, the highest consensus was on eccentric exercise, dynamic stretching, interval running, and movement-enhancing field training. All sub-items at this round were classified as SUPER (S: Soft tissue restoration techniques; U: Using supportive approaches; P: Physical fitness exercises; E: Electro-hydro-thermal methods; and R: Return to sport activities). Conclusion: SUPER rehabilitation provides a new conceptual framework in terms of approaches used by clinicians in rehabilitation for athletes with HSI. Recognizing the lack of evidence for the various approaches involved, clinicians can modify their practice and researchers can explore whether these approaches are scientifically correct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The architectural features of the hamstring muscle group are important to prevent injury or to reduce the risk of re-injury. Besides, eccentric training is often used in the rehabilitation of hamstring injuries. The aim of this systematic review was to examine changes created by eccentric training in hamstring muscle architecture and to determine the minimal values of training duration and intensity to achieve required functional changes. The research was conducted on the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, COCHRANE, CINAHL, and Pedro databases. Full-text studies examining the effect of eccentric training on at least one parameter of the hamstring muscle architecture were included in the review. Studies on cadavers and animals, and studies involving different types of training combined with eccentric training were excluded. Twelve of the 7954 studies met the set criteria. According to the results, eccentric training undoubtedly increases fiber length. However, the pennation angle tends to decrease. On the other hand, muscle thickness and crosssectional area tends to increase depending on the eccentric training. Although the frequency, number of sets and number of repetitions in sets were similar in the examined studies, muscle architecture changes were different. We think that eccentric training duration and the number of repetitions in total or per training session seem to have an impact on muscle architecture. In order to determine the minimal eccentric training program that can create these changes, quality research is needed to examine the duration, intensity and methods of eccentric training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Lower limb muscle-tendon injuries are the most common injuries in adolescent soccer players. The primary aim of this study was to examine the effects of motor imagery and action observation-based (MI+AO) plyometric training (PT) on the pennation angle (PA), muscle thickness (MT) and fiber length (FL) of the vastus lateralis (VL) and biceps femoris long head (BFlh). The secondary aim was to evaluate the effects of training on single leg jump performance. Methods: Thirty-six healthy adolescent soccer players (age: 13.91±1.05 years, height:162.22±10.20 cm, weight: 52.09±8.33 kg) were randomly assigned to PT (n=17) or control (n=19) groups. Athletes in both groups continued their routine training programs. PT group also participated in 3 sessions of training per week for 8 weeks. Athletes watched the prepared videos and imagined jumping. Muscle images were taken using the ultrasound probe. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Results: There was no significant change in the muscle architecture parameters in the control group during 8 weeks (p>0.05). The dominant (mean difference=2.40±3.45°, p=0.01) and non-dominant side (mean difference=3.32±3.75°, p=0.01) VL PA was higher in the PT group at week 4 compared the baseline. Similarly, there was a significant increase in dominant side VL MT (mean difference=0.15±0.19 cm, p=0.03), nondominant side VL MT (mean difference=0.24±0.23 cm, p=0.01), and dominant side BFlh MT (mean difference= 0.21±0.31 cm, p=0.03). Both sides jump performance was significantly better in the PT group at weeks 4 and 8 compared to baseline (mean difference=16.71±11.76 to 22.88±12.19 cm, p<0.01). In time x group interactions, non-dominant side VL PA (p=0.03) and MT (p<0.01), dominant side BFlh MT (p=0.04), and both side jump performance (p<0.01) were higher in the PT group. Conclusion: This research provides the first evidence that MI+AO PT improves muscle architecture. It is recommended that future research be conducted in injured athletes and using neuroimaging tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]