I think there should be an examination of back squat and deadlift technique coorilation to hamstring pull rates in team sport athletes. I think poor technique causes excessive micro tears which lead to an increased risk of a pull while sprinting.
This would be pretty hard to prove under lab conditions, as subjects would not be able to perform technique poorly. You would never get ethics approval to make people perform technique poorly with the intent of injuring them, even in the name of science haha!
In my experiences when referring with regard to an athlete in good condition, that has appropriate posture; mobility, muscle flexibility, etc., hamstring strains that occur during running and sprinting activities are usually due to the following:
1. Lack of the physical quality of strength – The athlete not only needs strength for force output and to maintain proper running posture, but to resist the high stresses applied to the body during the performance of these high speed repetitive activities. An athlete must also establish a foundation of strength prior to advancing to emphasize the training of the physical qualities that encompass higher exercise velocities
2. The athlete doesn’t sprint enough – When reviewing the force velocity curve of a muscle, eccentric muscle tension is greatest at high velocities. Sprinting will incorporate high eccentric abilities of the hamstring during the swing phase. Repetitive, yet appropriate sprinting volume is also necessary for “game day” performance. For example if an athlete only performs “tempo” type activities to get into “game day condition”, the body is not prepared for the repetitive “all out” sprinting that occurs during game day competition.
3. The program design is excessive – Excessive exercise performance (volume) results in excessive body fatigue. Excessive fatigue not only effects force output and exercise technique, but the time for adequate recovery as well.
4. Neuro timing – the semitendinosus, semimembranosus, and long head of the biceps femoris are innervated by the tibial nerve while the short head of the biceps femoris is innervated by the common peroneal. The biceps femoris has been stated by many in the literature as the most commonly injured hamstring muscle. Some have concluded that this “dual” innervation may be a possible cause. How does one ensure the correct “neuro timing” of the nerves that innervate the biceps femoris? How about sprinting enough to appropriate establish this proper neuro mechanism?
Interesting #4 point Rob! I’d liek to add to it; the bicep femoris could also be working overtime as a lateral rotator/stabilizer of the hip when the true hip lateral rotators aren’t active enough, which we know to be the case with a lot of people
Any thoughts on a 30 degree raised hamstring bridge
after a 90 degree rhb, and pre Nordic curls? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsGsCPehlmc
The idea being the the 30 rhb targets the hams more and the adductor longus less.
Only muscle can pull muscles. The key to preventing hamstring injuries is understanding the different nerve inner actions between the long head and the short head of the Biceps Femoris.
Steve, the key to preventing hamstring injuries is understanding the interactions between fatigue, anatomy/architecture, hamstring strength, eccentric hamstring strength, glute activation, core strength acting on the pelvis, hamstring flexibility, contralateral hip flexor flexibility, and prior injury. My buddies Jurdan Mendiguchia and Matt Brughelli are amongst the world’s experts in this area and are doing a great job of showing that it’s not one factor alone, but the interrelation between multiple factors. See their classic article on the topic here: http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/46/2/81.full.pdf+html
I think there should be an examination of back squat and deadlift technique coorilation to hamstring pull rates in team sport athletes. I think poor technique causes excessive micro tears which lead to an increased risk of a pull while sprinting.
This would be pretty hard to prove under lab conditions, as subjects would not be able to perform technique poorly. You would never get ethics approval to make people perform technique poorly with the intent of injuring them, even in the name of science haha!
In my experiences when referring with regard to an athlete in good condition, that has appropriate posture; mobility, muscle flexibility, etc., hamstring strains that occur during running and sprinting activities are usually due to the following:
1. Lack of the physical quality of strength – The athlete not only needs strength for force output and to maintain proper running posture, but to resist the high stresses applied to the body during the performance of these high speed repetitive activities. An athlete must also establish a foundation of strength prior to advancing to emphasize the training of the physical qualities that encompass higher exercise velocities
2. The athlete doesn’t sprint enough – When reviewing the force velocity curve of a muscle, eccentric muscle tension is greatest at high velocities. Sprinting will incorporate high eccentric abilities of the hamstring during the swing phase. Repetitive, yet appropriate sprinting volume is also necessary for “game day” performance. For example if an athlete only performs “tempo” type activities to get into “game day condition”, the body is not prepared for the repetitive “all out” sprinting that occurs during game day competition.
3. The program design is excessive – Excessive exercise performance (volume) results in excessive body fatigue. Excessive fatigue not only effects force output and exercise technique, but the time for adequate recovery as well.
4. Neuro timing – the semitendinosus, semimembranosus, and long head of the biceps femoris are innervated by the tibial nerve while the short head of the biceps femoris is innervated by the common peroneal. The biceps femoris has been stated by many in the literature as the most commonly injured hamstring muscle. Some have concluded that this “dual” innervation may be a possible cause. How does one ensure the correct “neuro timing” of the nerves that innervate the biceps femoris? How about sprinting enough to appropriate establish this proper neuro mechanism?
Just my opinion
Rob Panariello
Interesting #4 point Rob! I’d liek to add to it; the bicep femoris could also be working overtime as a lateral rotator/stabilizer of the hip when the true hip lateral rotators aren’t active enough, which we know to be the case with a lot of people
Any thoughts on a 30 degree raised hamstring bridge
after a 90 degree rhb, and pre Nordic curls?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsGsCPehlmc
The idea being the the 30 rhb targets the hams more and the adductor longus less.
Only muscle can pull muscles. The key to preventing hamstring injuries is understanding the different nerve inner actions between the long head and the short head of the Biceps Femoris.
Steve, the key to preventing hamstring injuries is understanding the interactions between fatigue, anatomy/architecture, hamstring strength, eccentric hamstring strength, glute activation, core strength acting on the pelvis, hamstring flexibility, contralateral hip flexor flexibility, and prior injury. My buddies Jurdan Mendiguchia and Matt Brughelli are amongst the world’s experts in this area and are doing a great job of showing that it’s not one factor alone, but the interrelation between multiple factors. See their classic article on the topic here: http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/46/2/81.full.pdf+html