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Updated: Oct 24, 2025
Muscle Imbalances: Testing and Training Functional Eccentric Hamstring Strength in Athletic Populations
Published on: May 1, 2018
Hamstring strains in professional rugby players result in increased fascial stiffness without muscle quality changes
Tomonori Kawai1, Masayasu Takahashi2, Kouichi Takamoto1
1Department of Sports and Health Sciences, Faculty of Human Sciences, University of East Asia, Ichinomiya Gakuen Cyo, Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, Japan.
Introduction:
Hamstring strain injury is common among sports injuries. A previous history of this injury is considered a strong predictor of recurrent hamstring strain injury. Fascial tissue reportedly becomes stiffer after hamstring strain injury. However, the association between fascial stiffness and previous hamstring strain injury has not been investigated in clinical studies. We aimed to determine whether a previous history of hamstring strain injury affects fascial tissue and muscle tissues using shear wave elastography.
Method:
In eleven male professional rugby players, the stiffness as a shear modulus (kPa) of fascial tissue and muscle was measured on the specific injured area measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at resting position by using shear wave elastography. The side-to-side differences between the injured and the uninjured side were analyzed. The length and area of the muscle scar tissue were evaluated by MRI in relation to fascial stiffness.
Results:
The shear elastic modulus of fascia was stiffer in the injured vs. the uninjured side; however, no difference was observed in the muscle. No significant relationship was detected between the length and area of the muscle scar tissue (all P > 0.05).
Discussion:
Rugby players with a previous history of hamstring strain injury exhibited passive stiffness of fascial tissues in the injured leg, regardless of the length or area of the muscle scar tissue. However, the passive stiffness of muscles was same between the injured and the uninjured leg.
Conclusion:
The results can be beneficial to consider future risk for hamstring strain injuries.
