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The effects of high-velocity hamstring muscle training on injury prevention in football players

Authors :
Sigitas Kamandulis
Joan Aureli Cadefau
Audrius Snieckus
Mantas Mickevicius
Inga Lukonaitiene
Pornpimol Muanjai
Danguole Satkunskiene
Victor Molina
Xavier de Blas Foix
Daniele Conte
Source :
Frontiers in Physiology, Vol 14 (2023)
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
Frontiers Media S.A., 2023.

Abstract

Background: Explosive and fast body movements, sprints, jumps and quick changes of direction, which are characteristic of the football training, place considerable strain on the hamstring muscles. Due to the high occurrence of hamstring injuries, new preventive strategies are required that focus on high-velocity training. The purpose was to assess the effectiveness of high-velocity elastic-band training in reducing the occurrence of hamstring injuries in football players.Methods: Male football players from 15 teams (n = 319) playing in national competitions participated in this study. The players were involved in a 5-week exercise period in either the intervention group (INT) or the control group (CON), with a follow-up period of ∼4 months where hamstring injuries and exposure time were recorded. The INT group had two to three sessions per week of elastic-band training with low-load, high-velocity leg curls while lying prone; the CON group performed self-paced football-specific drills.Results: The incidence rate of hamstring injuries was 6.5% in the INT group (8 out of 123 players) and 9.2% in the CON group (18 out of 196 players). Although the INT group showed almost 1/3 reduction in hamstring injury incidence compared to the CON group, the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Moreover, no differences (p > 0.05, odds ratio [OR] = trivial-to-small) in distribution between the groups were found in hamstring injury characteristics (leg dominance and mechanism) except for the distribution of injuries that occurred during matches or training (p = 0.036; OR = 6.14, moderate).Conclusion: The program of high-velocity elastic-band training did not prove to be effective in preventing hamstring muscle injuries in football players despite displaying some positive indications that could be considering when creating injury prevention programs.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1664042X and 79255531
Volume :
14
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Frontiers in Physiology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.79255531599f4dfb8fd80ba809bbcd41
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2023.1219087