Int J Sports Med
DOI: 10.1055/a-2348-2605
Orthopedics & Biomechanics
Thomas G. Balshaw
1
School of Sport, Exercise, and Health Sciences, Loughborough
University, Loughborough, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland
,
Emmet J. McDermott
1
School of Sport, Exercise, and Health Sciences, Loughborough
University, Loughborough, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland
,
Garry J Massey
2
School of Sport & Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter,
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Chris Hartley
3
Department of Health Sciences, Birmingham City University, Birmingham,
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
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
› Author Affiliations
Funding Information
Institute for Sports Research (Singapore)
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Abstract
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.
Keywords
magnetic resonance imaging -
internal tendon -
muscle volume -
risk factors
Publication History
Received: 31 January 2024
Accepted: 17 June 2024
Accepted Manuscript online:
19 June 2024
Article published online:
30 August 2024
© 2024. Thieme. All rights reserved.
Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany
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