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
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.
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany
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