PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Cohen, D
AU  - Zhao, B
AU  - Okwera, B
AU  - Martyn, M
AU  - Delextrat, A
TI  - ANGLE-SPECIFIC CHANGES IN ECCENTRIC HAMSTRING TORQUE AND HAMSTRING TO QUAD RATIO FOLLOWING SIMULATED SOCCER
AID  - 10.1136/bjsports-2014-093494.54
DP  - 2014 Apr 01
TA  - British Journal of Sports Medicine
PG  - 580--580
VI  - 48
IP  - 7
4099  - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/48/7/580.1.short
4100  - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/48/7/580.1.full
SO  - Br J Sports Med2014 Apr 01; 48
AB  - Background Soccer-specific fatigue decreases eccentric peak torque and the functional peak hamstring to quadriceps torque ratio (fHecc:Qcon), changes thought to increase the risk of hamstring strain (HS). Inadequate eccentric muscle strength specifically at long length may also be a risk factor for HS. The effect of simulated soccer on the hamstring eccentric torque-angle profile, or the hamstring:quad torque ratio at specific joint angles has not been reported. Objective To determine the effect of a simulated soccer on angle-specific eccentric hamstring torque and angle-specific.Hecc:Qcon (AS.Hecc:Qcon) across the range of motion. Design Acute intervention. Setting Semi-professional soccer. Participants 9 male players. Risk factor assessment Isokinetic concentric and eccentric knee flexion and concentric knee extension was evaluated in the dominant limb at 120°·s−1 pre and post the Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test (LIST). Main outcome measurements Changes in eccentric hamstrings torque, concentric quadriceps torque and hamstring:quadriceps torque ratios at 9 joint angles (AS.Hecc:Qcon), angle of peak torque (APT), and fHecc:Qcon. Results The LIST resulted in significant decreases in eccentric hamstring torque at 60˚, 50˚ and 10˚ and a significant (21.8%) decrease in AS.Hecc:Qcon at 10˚ (P<.05). Eccentric hamstring APT increased significantly (P<.05) from 7.1˚to 18.8˚. Conclusions Simulated soccer produces angle-specific changes in hamstring eccentric torque and in AS.Hecc:Qcon and a shift in the eccentric hamstring APT. Our findings suggest that a prevention programs should both increase fatigue resistance in the hamstrings and include exercises that specifically develop long-length eccentric hamstring strength. Further research is also needed to determine if the evaluation of angle-specific.Hecc:Qcon improves the predictive power of injury risk screening over assessment of the peak torque fHecc:Qcon alone.