Prevention of Hamstring Strains in Elite Soccer: an intervention study
Scand J Med Sci Sports 2008: 18: 40–48
A. Arnason1,2, T. E. Andersen1, I. Holme1, L. Engebretsen1, R. Bahr1
A. Arnason1,2, T. E. Andersen1, I. Holme1, L. Engebretsen1, R. Bahr1
Abstract
Hamstring strains and player exposure were registered prospectively during four consecutive
soccer seasons (1999–2002) for 17–30 elite soccer teams from Iceland and Norway. The first two seasons were used as baseline, while intervention programs consisting ofwarm-up stretching, flexibility and/or eccentric strength training were introduced during the 2001 and 2002 seasons. During the intervention seasons, 48% of the teams selected to use the intervention programs. There was no difference in the incidence of hamstring strains between
teams that used the flexibility training program and those who did, nor was there a difference compared with the baseline data. The incidence of hamstring strains was lower in teams who used the eccentric training program compared with teams that did not use the program, as well as compared with baseline data for the same intervention teams. Eccentric strength training with Nordic hamstring lowers combined with warm-up stretching appears to reduce the risk of hamstring strains, while no effect was detected from flexibility training alone. These results should be verified in randomized clinical trials.
soccer seasons (1999–2002) for 17–30 elite soccer teams from Iceland and Norway. The first two seasons were used as baseline, while intervention programs consisting ofwarm-up stretching, flexibility and/or eccentric strength training were introduced during the 2001 and 2002 seasons. During the intervention seasons, 48% of the teams selected to use the intervention programs. There was no difference in the incidence of hamstring strains between
teams that used the flexibility training program and those who did, nor was there a difference compared with the baseline data. The incidence of hamstring strains was lower in teams who used the eccentric training program compared with teams that did not use the program, as well as compared with baseline data for the same intervention teams. Eccentric strength training with Nordic hamstring lowers combined with warm-up stretching appears to reduce the risk of hamstring strains, while no effect was detected from flexibility training alone. These results should be verified in randomized clinical trials.
Hamstring strains are common injuries in sports characterized by maximal sprinting, kicking and sudden accelerations like sprinting; Hamstring strains account for about 29% of injuries among sprinters (Lysholm & Wiklander, 1987).
There is evidence showing that previous hamstring strains (Bennell et al., 1998; Orchard, 2001; Verrall et al., 2001; Arnason et al., 2004b) and age (Orchard, 2001; Verrall et al., 2001; Arnason et al., 2004b) are independent risk factors for new hamstring strains.
Other factors, such as poor hamstring muscle flexibility (Jonhagen et al., 1994; Witvrouw et al., 2003), muscle fatigue (Mair et al., 1996) and insufficient warm-up (Safran et al., 1988), have also been suggested to predispose to hamstring strains, but the evidence for this is less convincing (Bahr & Holme, 2003; Arnason et al., 2004b).
Raul Oliveira, Fisioterapeuta
R´Equilibri_us - Gabinete de Fisioterapia
Av. D. João I, nº 8, Oeiras
309 984 508 / 917231718
Faculdade de Motricidade Humana
Sem comentários:
Enviar um comentário