Over the past three decades, injury trends in professional football has transformed drastically, with the hamstring muscle group now identified as the most frequently injured structure, accounting for more time lost than other muscle groups (Walden et al., 2005). Indeed, the Football Association Audit of Injuries, found that over two seasons, hamstring strain injuries, proved to be the most prevalent injury, with 12% of all injuries in the English Premier League (Woods et al., 2004). Hamstring strain injuries (HSIs) are a common musculoskeletal condition, affecting non-sporting individuals to elite level athletes (Delorme et al., 2009). It is common in occupational as well as sport-related activities, although more than 60% of posterior
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Historically, HSIs were seen as underlying acute inflammation (REF). However, histological studies have identified that the injury is characterised by inflammation, oedema and to a lesser extent bleeding (Garrett and Lohnes. 1990). Instead, Pull and Ranson (2007) found muscle fibres are unable to withstand excessive tensile forces and are therefore associated with eccentric muscle action. Effective healthcare management incorporates differential diagnosis considerations, thus making it important for medical staff to examine the athlete thoroughly …show more content…
The prime function of the hamstring muscle complex is to contract eccentrically, thereby absorbing kinetic energy so as to protect the knee and hip joints (REF). However, due to repetitive hip extension and knee flexion movements during match play, causes periods of rapid acceleration-deceleration forces on the muscle fibres, by placing the muscle in a lengthened state over two joints and contracting forcefully (Askling et al., 2006). When the hamstring muscle is strained, the initial injury is usually associated with disruption of the distal myotendinous junction and muscle fibres (REF). Injuries to the muscle belly only occur with the application of high forces (REF). This develops because the tension contributed by stretch is superimposed and impairs the muscles ability to absorb force between the fibrils, causing interfibrillar shear failure (Dadebo et al., 2004). Nevertheless, Dauty and Collon (2011) confirm the hamstring muscle complex is three times weaker than the myotendinous junction, suggesting it is likely to rupture before the tendon. This is because there is relatively poor expression of myosin within the muscle fibres, due to its composition of type III collagen and protein level, allowing the myotendinous junction to withstand myofibril regeneration (Garett,
Historically, HSIs were seen as underlying acute inflammation (REF). However, histological studies have identified that the injury is characterised by inflammation, oedema and to a lesser extent bleeding (Garrett and Lohnes. 1990). Instead, Pull and Ranson (2007) found muscle fibres are unable to withstand excessive tensile forces and are therefore associated with eccentric muscle action. Effective healthcare management incorporates differential diagnosis considerations, thus making it important for medical staff to examine the athlete thoroughly …show more content…
The prime function of the hamstring muscle complex is to contract eccentrically, thereby absorbing kinetic energy so as to protect the knee and hip joints (REF). However, due to repetitive hip extension and knee flexion movements during match play, causes periods of rapid acceleration-deceleration forces on the muscle fibres, by placing the muscle in a lengthened state over two joints and contracting forcefully (Askling et al., 2006). When the hamstring muscle is strained, the initial injury is usually associated with disruption of the distal myotendinous junction and muscle fibres (REF). Injuries to the muscle belly only occur with the application of high forces (REF). This develops because the tension contributed by stretch is superimposed and impairs the muscles ability to absorb force between the fibrils, causing interfibrillar shear failure (Dadebo et al., 2004). Nevertheless, Dauty and Collon (2011) confirm the hamstring muscle complex is three times weaker than the myotendinous junction, suggesting it is likely to rupture before the tendon. This is because there is relatively poor expression of myosin within the muscle fibres, due to its composition of type III collagen and protein level, allowing the myotendinous junction to withstand myofibril regeneration (Garett,