18 Apr FSI Football Science Update

Predicting Hamstring Strains in Soccer Players Based on ROM: An Analysis From a Gender Perspective.

Molina-Cárdenas Á, Álvarez-Yates T, García-García O.

Res Q Exerc Sport. 2022 Apr 8:1-7. doi: 10.1080/02701367.2021.2011091. Online ahead of print.

This study in 100 amateur soccer players (56 men and 44 women) found that the straight leg raise SLR and modified Thomas Test in females and the SLR and the hip internal and external rotation range of motion in males predict hamstring strain. The predictive models correctly classify 95.5% and 94.6% of cases presenting good sensitivity (77.8% and 88.2%) and full (100%) and high (97.4%) specificity respectively.

 

Evidence-Based Hamstring Injury Prevention and Risk Factor Management: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Rudisill SS, Varady NH, Kucharik MP, Eberlin CT, Martin SD.

Am J Sports Med. 2022 Apr 6:3635465221083998. doi: 10.1177/03635465221083998. Online ahead of print.

This Systematic review and meta-analysis with Level of evidence 1 on 108 articles found that Eccentric training reduced the incidence of hamstring injury by 56.8% to 70.0%. Static stretching produced greater flexibility gains than proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation and dynamic stretching although the effects of static techniques were more transient. Fascicle length increased with eccentric strength and sprint training and decreased with concentric training.

 

Dwarfs on the Shoulders of Giants: Bayesian Analysis With Informative Priors in Elite Sports Research and Decision Making.

Hecksteden A, Forster S, Egger F, Buder F, Kellner R, Meyer T.

Front Sports Act Living. 2022 Mar 17;4:793603. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2022.793603. eCollection 2022.

While sample sizes in elite sports are necessarily small, so are the effects that may be relevant. This conundrum is complicated by an understandable reluctance of athletes to comply with extensive study requirements. In Bayesian analyses, pre-existing knowledge (e.g., from sub-elite trials) can be formally included to supplement scarce data, and may be a practicable and meaningful option particularly for very small samples and when the analytical aim is decision making (use / don’t use in the specific setting) rather than generalizable inference.