Comparison of Trunk Muscle Performance Between Sprinters With and Without Hamstring Strain Injury History

Comparison of Trunk Muscle Activity, Muscle Strength, Muscle Endurance Between Sprinters With and Without Hamstring Strain Injury History

The aim of this study is to:

1. Compare trunk muscle performance between sprinters with and without HSI history
2. Investigate whether running speed influences the differences on trunk muscle activity between these two groups

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Hamstring Injury

Detailed Description

Hamstring strain injury is one of the most common injuries in the lower extremities. As running speed increases, the force and load on the hamstring muscles significantly increase, thereby increasing the risk of injury. Trunk muscles are connected thigh muscles through the pelvis, and poor trunk muscle capacity of maintaining stability affect the muscle length of the lower limbs during movement, reducing their contractile tension and increasing the risk of injury. Earlier literature also indicated that poor trunk muscle performance is related to the occurrence of lower extremity sport injuries. However, literature on the relationship between trunk muscle performance and hamstring strain injury is scarce. Testing methods of existing research have failed to fully reflect the actual circumstances of sprinting. Moreover, previous studies have predominantly focused on soccer players. However, the running mechanics of soccer player and sprinter are slightly different. Currently, there is lack of research investigate the relationship between trunk muscle performance and hamstring strain injury in sprinters.Therefore, the aim of this study is to: (1) Compare trunk muscle performance between sprinters with and without HSI history, (2) nvestigate whether running speed influences the differences on trunk muscle activity between these two groups

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 32

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Taiwan
  • Beitou
    • Taipei, Beitou, Taiwan, 112304
      • National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

• Age between 16 to 30 years old
• Sprinters who specialize in 100, 200, 400 meters, or 100, 400 metres hurdles
• Participates in sprint training ≥ three times a week
• Without any pain when participation in sporting activity

Description

Inclusion Criteria of HSI history group:

• Have ≥ twice hamstring strain injury occurrence in the past year

Inclusion Criteria of control group:

• Without any hamstring strain injury occurrence in the past year
• Match gender, age, BMI, dominant side, training experience, training frequency, Personal best record in 100m with HSI history group

Exclusion Criteria of all subjects:

• Neurological, cardiorespiratory or systemic disorder
• Have low back pain history in the past year
• Scoliosis
• Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
• Complaints of pain on trunk & lower extremity
• Leg length difference > 2cm
• History of lower extremity surgery

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Hamstring strain injury history group; Sprinters who have ≥ twice hamstring strain injury occurrence in the past year
Control group; Sprinters who match gender, age, BMI, dominant side, training experience, training frequency, PB in 100m with HSI history group and without any hamstring strain injury occurrence in the past year

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Surface electromyography (Noraxon TeleMyo sEMG System, Noraxon USA Inc, Scottdale, Ariz)	Muscle activation of external oblique, internal oblique, erect spinae, gluteus maximus when sprinting on the treadmill at 40% and 60% maximal speeds	Immediately during the experiment
Isometric trunk flexor muscle strength (Pro 4, Biodex Medical Systems, Inc., Shirley, NY, United States)	Isometric muscle strength of trunk flexor is measured with Biodex System 4 Pro™ in sitting position	Immediately during the experiment
Isometric trunk extensor muscle strength (Pro 4, Biodex Medical Systems, Inc., Shirley, NY, United States)	Isometric muscle strength of trunk extensor is measured with Biodex System 4 Pro™ in sitting position	Immediately during the experiment
Isometric trunk rotator muscle strength (microFET®2 Digital Handheld Dynamometer)	Isometric muscle strength of trunk rotator is measured with microFET in hook-lying position	Immediately during the experiment
Trunk flexor muscle endurance	Muscle endurance of trunk flexor is measured with trunk muscle endurance test. It requires subjects to sit on the test bench and place the upper body against a support with an angle of 60˚ from the test bed. Both the knees and hips are flexed to 90˚. The arms are folded across the chest with hands placed on the opposite shoulder and toes are placed under toe straps. Subjects will be instructed to maintain the body position while the supporting wedge is pulled back 10cm to begin the test. The test ends when the upper body falls below the 60˚ angle. The time the subjects maintain will be recorded.	Immediately during the experiment
Trunk extensor muscle endurance	Muscle endurance of trunk extensor is measured with Biering-Sorensen test. It requires subjects to lay prone with the lower body fixed to the test bed at the ankles, knees, and hips and the upper body extended in a cantelevered fashion over the edge of the test bench. The test bench surface is approximately 25cm above the surface of the floor. Subjects rest their upper bodies on the floor before the exertion. At the beginning of the exertion the upper limbs are held across the chest with the hands resting on the opposite shoulders, and the upper body is lifted off the floor until the upper torso is horizontal to the floor. Subjects are instructed to maintain the horizontal position as long as possible. The time the subjects maintain will be recorded.	Immediately during the experiment
Trunk lateral flexor muscle endurance	Muscle endurance of trunk lateral flexor is measured with side bridge test. It requires subjects to lay on an exercise mat (thickness, 2.5cm) on their sides with legs extended. The top foot is placed in front of the lower foot on the mat for support. Subjects are instructed to support themselves lifting their hips off the mat to maintain a straight line over their full body length, and support themselves on one elbow and their feet. The uninvolved arm is held across the chest with hand placed on the opposite shoulder. The test ends when the hips returns to the exercise mat. The time the subjects maintain will be recorded.	Immediately during the experiment

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Isokinetic lower extremity muscle strength ratio (Pro 4, Biodex Medical Systems, Inc., Shirley, NY, United States)	Muscle strength ratios of hamstrings eccentric contraction at 30 ˚/s angular velocity and quadriceps concentric contraction at 240 ˚/s angular velocity, quadriceps concentric contraction at 240 ˚/s angular velocity and hamstrings concentric contraction at 240 ˚/s angular velocity, bilateral hamstrings concentric contraction at 60 ˚/s angular velocity are measured	Immediately during the experiment
Hamstring flexibility	Hamstring flexibility is measured with 90-90 active straight leg test. It requires subjects to lay on the bed with hip and knee 90 degrees flexion. Subjects are instructed to extend their knee with hip 90 degrees flexion as possible. The knee angle is measured as hamstring flexibility.	Immediately during the experiment

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Yang Ming University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 1, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 8, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): October 10, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 28, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 13, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): October 18, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 18, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 13, 2023
• Last Verified: April 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Hamstring Strain Injury; Trunk Muscle Performance; Hip Muscle Performance; Sprinter
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries
• Other Study ID Numbers: YM111052F

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No