Acute Hamstring Strains in Danish Elite Soccer - Prevention and Rehabilitation

A common soft tissue injury in sports involving sprinting and jumping is the hamstring strain.

Not much evidence-based research has been carried out on prevention of hamstring strains.

Most studies suggest that hamstring strains occur during the later part of the swing phase when the player is sprinting. In this phase the hamstring muscles are working to decelerate knee extension - that is, the muscle develops tension while lengthening. This means that the muscles change from functioning eccentrically to concentrically. We hypothesize that it is during this rapid change from eccentric to concentric function that the muscles are most vulnerable to injuries, and that the injuries can be prevented by increasing the eccentric muscle strength in the hamstring.

This randomized clinical trial will examine the effect of a 10-week preseason strength-training program in Danish elite soccer. The strength-training program focuses on eccentric hamstring training.

60 elite teams (1200 soccer players) will be cluster-randomized to either ordinary training or ordinary training combined with eccentric hamstring strength training. The training group will start the training program in the pre-season (10 weeks) and continue the training once a week during the following season.

Suspected hamstrings strains during the season will be examined within 3 days using ultrasound. Ultrasound verified hamstring strains will be registered, and players will start a standardized rehabilitation program.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male soccer player in one of the top 4 divisions i Denmark in the 2007/08 season
• Minimum 18 years old at the time for inclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current hamstring strain at the time for inclusion
• Under 18 years old