Affiliations: [a] Department of Physiotherapy, University of Limerick,
Ireland
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Kieran O'Sullivan, Lecturer in
Physiotherapy, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland. Tel.: +353 61 234119;
Fax: +353 61 234251; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Hamstring injuries are common in many sports involving high-load
eccentric hamstring activation, including Gaelic football. Eccentric hamstring
peak torque (PT) and hamstring angle to peak torque (AngPT) have not been
examined in previously injured Gaelic footballers. This study aimed to
determine whether significant hamstring and quadriceps PT deficits were present
in Gaelic footballers after a hamstring injury. Concentric hamstring and
quadriceps PT at 60 and 180 degrees/second (°/s) and
eccentric hamstring PT at 30°/s were measured using an
isokinetic dynamometer in 18 male Gaelic footballers (nine previously injured,
nine controls). Hamstring AngPT, as well as hamstring and quadriceps PT and PT
ratios were analysed. For previously injured limbs, hamstring AngPT occurred at
significantly shorter muscle lengths (p=0.038) than for
the contralateral uninjured limbs in eccentric testing only. There were no
other significant differences (p > 0.05) at any velocity,
for within-subject or between-subject comparisons. The results showed that the
previously injured hamstrings generated their eccentric hamstring AngPT at
significantly shorter muscle lengths than the contralateral hamstrings. The
results imply footballers with a previous hamstring injury who have returned to
full participation may remain at increased risk of re-injury because of an
alteration in their eccentric hamstring AngPT.
Keywords: Isokinetics, muscle strength, hamstring, injury, angle to peak torque, Gaelic football
