Int J Sports Med 2009; 30(8): 573-578
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1202822
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Soccer Fatigue, Sprinting and Hamstring Injury Risk

K. Small 1 , L. R. McNaughton 1 , M. Greig 2 , M. Lohkamp 2 , R. Lovell 1
  • 1Department of Sport, Health & Exercise Science, University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom
  • 2Department of Sport and Physical Activity, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, United Kingdom
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision January 26, 2009

Publication Date:
19 May 2009 (online)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a multi-directional soccer-specific fatigue protocol on sprinting kinematics in relation to hamstring injury risk. Nine semi-professional soccer players (Mean±SD: Age: 21.3±2.9 year; Height 185.0±8.7 cm; Body Mass 81.6±6.7 kg) completed the SAFT90; a multi-directional, intermittent 90 min exercise protocol representative of soccer match-play. The 10m sprint times and three-dimensional kinematic data were recorded using a high-speed motion capture system (Qualisys Track Manager®) every 15 min during the SAFT90. A significant time dependent increase was observed in sprint time during the SAFT90 (P<0.01) with a corresponding significant decrease in stride length (P<0.01). Analysis of the kinematic sprint data revealed significantly reduced combined maximal hip flexion and knee extension angle, indicating reduced hamstring length, between pre-exercise and half-time (P<0.01) and pre-exercise and full-time (P<0.05). These findings revealed that the SAFT90 produced time dependent impairments in sprinting performance and kinematics of technique which may result from shorter hamstring muscle length. Alterations in sprinting technique may have implications for the increased predisposition to hamstring strain injury during the latter stages of soccer match-play.

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Correspondence

Dr. K. SmallPhD 

Department of Sport, Health & Exercise Science

University of Hull

Loten Building

Hull

United Kingdom

HU6 7RX

Phone: +14/824/651 08

Fax: +44/148/246 64 04

Email: k.small@hull.ac.uk

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