RESEARCH SUMMARY
Title: Eccentric knee flexor strength and risk of hamstring injuries in Rugby Union: A prospective study
Author/s: Bourne (@MBourne5), Opar (@davidopar), Williams (@drmorgs), Shield (@das_shield)
Year: 2015
Question: How does eccentric knee flexor strength relate to risk of hamstring injuries in Rugby Union?
Key Takeaway: Eccentric knee flexor strength does not increase the likelihood of future hamstring strain injury in rugby union players
Summary: Investigating the relationship between eccentric knee-flexor strength via the Nordic hamstring exercise and the risk of HSI in rugby union.
Key Findings:
- To determine if lower levels of eccentric knee-flexor strength or greater between-limb imbalance in this parameter during the Nordic hamstring exercise are risk-factors for hamstring strain injury in rugby union.
- Players with a history of hamstring strain injury had 4.1 fold greater risk of subsequent hamstring injury than players without such history.
- Between-limb imbalance in eccentric knee-flexor strength of ≥ 15% and ≥ 20% increased the risk of hamstring strain injury 2.4 fold and 3.4 fold respectively.
- Lower eccentric knee flexor strength and other prior injuries were 49 not associated with increased risk of future hamstring strain.