Low Horizontal Force Production Capacity during Sprinting as a Potential Risk Factor of Hamstring Injury in Football

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics
• Injury Epidemiology

Background:

• Hamstring injuries (HI) are prevalent in football, impacting player availability and performance.
• Previous research indicates reduced horizontal force production capacity post-HI.
• The predictive role of baseline force capacity on future HI risk remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between sprint running horizontal force production capacities (F0 and V0) and the occurrence of new hamstring injuries in football players.
• To determine if lower force production at low (F0) and high (V0) velocities predicts future hamstring injury risk.

Main Methods:

• Prospective cohort study involving 284 football players over one season.
• Sprint mechanical properties (F0 and V0) were calculated from 30m field sprints performed periodically.
• New hamstring injuries were prospectively recorded, and Cox regression analyses were used to assess associations, adjusted for covariates.

Main Results:

• No significant association was found between initial season force capacities (F0, V0) and subsequent hamstring injury occurrence.
• During the season, lower measured F0 values were significantly associated with an increased risk of sustaining a hamstring injury in the following weeks (HR = 2.67, p < 0.001).
• V0 did not show a significant association with hamstring injury risk.

Conclusions:

• Low horizontal force production capacity at low velocity during early sprint acceleration (F0) is a significant predictor of future hamstring injury risk in football players.
• Dynamic monitoring of F0 throughout the season may aid in identifying players at elevated risk.
• F0 should be considered as an additional factor within a multifactorial and individualized approach to hamstring injury prevention.