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Int J Sports Med
DOI: 10.1055/a-2348-2605
Orthopedics & Biomechanics

Smaller Biceps Femoris Aponeurosis Size in Legs with a History of Hamstring Strain Injury

Thomas G. Balshaw
1   School of Sport, Exercise, and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Emmet J. McDermott
1   School of Sport, Exercise, and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Garry J Massey
2   School of Sport & Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Chris Hartley
3   Department of Health Sciences, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Pui Wah Kong 
4   National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
,
Tom Maden-Wilkinson
5   Academy of Sport and Physical Activity, Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, Collegiate Campus, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Jonathan Folland
1   School of Sport, Exercise, and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
› Author Affiliations Funding Information Institute for Sports Research (Singapore)
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Abstract

Biceps femoris long head (BFLH) aponeurosis size was compared between legs with and without prior hamstring strain injury (HSI) using two approaches: within-group (injured vs. uninjured legs of previous unilateral HSI athletes) and between-group (previously injured legs of HSI athletes vs. legs of No Prior HSI athletes). MRI scans were performed on currently healthy, competitive male athletes with Prior HSI history (n=23;≥1 verified BFLH injury; including a sub-group with unilateral HSI history; most recent HSI 1.6±1.2 years ago) and pair-matched athletes with No Prior HSI history (n=23). Anonymized axial images were manually segmented to quantify BFLH aponeurosis and muscle size. Prior unilateral HSI athletes’ BFLH aponeurosis maximum width, aponeurosis area, and aponeurosis:muscle area ratio were 14.0–19.6% smaller in previously injured vs. contralateral uninjured legs (paired t-test, 0.008≤P≤0.044). BFLH aponeurosis maximum width and area were also 9.4–16.5% smaller in previously injured legs (n=28) from Prior HSI athletes vs. legs (n=46) of No Prior HSI athletes (unpaired t-test, 0.001≤P≤0.044). BFLH aponeurosis size was smaller in legs with prior HSI vs. those without prior HSI. These findings suggest BFLH aponeurosis size, especially maximum width, could be a potential cause or consequence of HSI, with prospective evidence needed to support or refute these possibilities.

Keywords

magnetic resonance imaging - internal tendon - muscle volume - risk factors

Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 31 January 2024

Accepted: 17 June 2024

Accepted Manuscript online:
19 June 2024

Article published online:
30 August 2024

© 2024. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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