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Updated: Jun 11, 2025
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Published on: May 1, 2018
Acute Changes in Hamstring Injury Risk Factors After a Session of High-Volume Maximal Sprinting Speed Efforts in
Gerard Carmona1, Lia Moreno-Simonet2, Pedro Luís Cosio2
1TecnoCampus, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Department of Health Sciences, Research group in Technology Applied to High Performance and Health (TAARS), Mataró, Spain.
Background:
Maximal sprinting speed (MSS) overexposure is associated with increased risk of injury. This study aimed to describe changes in sprint performance-related factors and hamstring strain injury (HSI) risk factors after a high-volume sprinting session in soccer players.
Hypothesis:
A high-volume sprinting session can induce acute changes in several sprint performance-related factors (sprint time and mechanical properties) and HSI risk factors (posterior chain muscle strength, hamstring range of motion, and dynamic lumbo-pelvic control [LPC], measured as changes in anterior pelvic tilt [APT] during maximal speed sprinting).
Study Design:
Prospective observational case series.
Level Of Evidence:
Level 4.
Methods:
Fifteen active male amateur soccer players participated. Changes in sprint performance-related factors and HSI risk factors were examined for 72 hours after high-volume MSS efforts (H-VMSSE) using a soccer-contextualized multifactorial approach. Muscle damage proxy markers (hamstring perceived soreness and creatine kinase) were also examined.
Results:
H-VMSSE induced decrements in sprint performance-related factors. Significant reductions in theoretical maximal horizontal velocity (P < 0.01; effect size [ES], -0.71) and performance (P = 0.02; ES, -0.59) were observed for 48 and 72 hours after H-VMSSE. Small but significant reductions in posterior chain muscle force-generating capacity were detected for 48 and 72 hours after H-VMSSE for the nondominant (P < 0.03; ES, -0.60) and dominant (P < 0.04; ES, -0.40) leg. Finally, players exhibited persistent small, albeit nonsignificant (P = 0.06; ES, 0.53), decreases in dynamic LPC (APT increases) for 72 hours after H-VMSSE.
Conclusion:
H-VMSSE induced declines in both sprint performance-related factors and HSI risk factors. Sprinting can alter a player's anatomic structure by increasing APT during the maximum speed phase of the sprint.
Clinical Relevance:
A soccer-contextualized multifactorial approach might allow for the regulation of MSS dosage depending on individual HSI risk factor status, thereby serving as a tailored "vaccine" for sprinting needs.
