Can We Modify Maximal Speed Running Posture? Implications for Performance and Hamstring Injury Management

Abstract

Purpose: Sprint kinematics have been linked to hamstring injury and performance. This study aimed to examine if a specific 6-week multimodal intervention, combining lumbopelvic control and unning technique exercises, induced changes in pelvis and lower-limb kinematics at maximal speed and improved sprint performance. Methods: Healthy amateur athletes were assigned to a control or intervention group (IG). A sprint test with 3-dimensional kinematic measurements was performed before (PRE) and after (POST) 6 weeks of training. The IG program included 3 weekly sessions integrating coaching, strength and conditioning, and physical therapy approaches (eg, manual therapy, mobility, lumbopelvic control, strength and sprint “front-side mechanics”-oriented drills). Results: Analyses of variance showed no between-group differences at PRE. At POST, intragroup analyses showed PRE–POST differences for the pelvic (sagittal and frontal planes) and thigh kinematics and improved sprint performance (split times) for the IG only. Specifically, IG showed (1) a lower anterior pelvic tilt during the late swing phase, (2) greater pelvic obliquity on the free-leg side during the early swing phase, (3) higher vertical position of the front-leg knee, (4) an increase in thigh angular velocity and thigh retraction velocity, (5) lower between-knees distance at initial contact, and (6) a shorter ground contact duration. The intergroup analysis revealed disparate effects (possibly to very likely) in the most relevant variables investigated. Conclusion: The 6-week multimodal training program induced clear pelvic and lower-limb kinematic changes during maximal speed sprinting. These alterations may collectively be associated with reduced risk of muscle strain and were concomitant with significant sprint performance improvement.

Training Management of the Elite Adolescent Soccer Player throughout Maturation

“…As such, the goal of the MDT should be to push athletic boundaries and inspire athletes to unlock their true potential [93]. Furthermore, a performance-oriented approach may in fact present as a dual benefit in progressing athletic performance while simultaneously reducing injury risk [94][95][96][97][98][99][100][101]. Resultantly, practitioners should aim to evaluate the effectiveness of their programmes by establishing global and specific key performance indicators (KPIs) [93].…”

Sprinting: a key piece of the hamstring injury risk management puzzle

“…Evaluation of the sprinting ‘structures’, kinetics,5 kinematics4 8 and/or exposure2 3 can be done according to the time and level of athlete. For example, Lahti et al 9 have proposed an on-field evaluation procedure with two assessments over the football season of four musculoskeletal categories: posterior chain strength, range of motion, lumbopelvic control and sprint mechanics.…”

“…Variation in force and velocity of sprinting can be promoted by using heavy sled or downhill running. Examples of programmes have been proposed to improve sprinting kinematics8 or sprinting kinetics,9 or to introduce sprinting as a preventive strategy in male football players 10…”

Factors influencing performance and injury risk in elite female Gaelic team sport players and future research directions: a narrative review

“…A further goal of maximal velocity sprinting is to achieve a high stride frequency combined with an optimal stride length [61,62]. Furthermore, to mitigate against hamstring injuries during the terminal swing phase of sprinting, practitioners within elite female Gaelic team sports athletes are recommended to focus on multi-factorial approach which includes slow, high load eccentric contractions at the knee joint with development of efficient maximal velocity sprinting mechanics using front-side mechanics drilling constraints [63][64][65][66]. It is important that elite female Gaelic team sports athletes are exposed to adequate maximal velocity sprinting (> 90% of their maximal velocity) throughout the season which may provide a potential aid against hamstring injuries [65,66].…”