Physical Therapy in Sport
Volume 10, Issue 2 , Pages 75-80, May 2009

Application of eccentric exercise on an Australian Rules football player with recurrent hamstring injuries

  • Matt Brughelli

      Affiliations

    • School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, 100 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, Western Australia 6027, Australia
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +1 61 86304 5152; fax: +1 61 86304 5036.
    • ,
  • Ken Nosaka

      Affiliations

    • School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, 100 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, Western Australia 6027, Australia
    • ,
  • John Cronin

      Affiliations

    • School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, 100 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, Western Australia 6027, Australia
    • Institute of Sport and Recreation Research New Zealand, AUT University, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1020, New Zealand

Received 22 September 2008; received in revised form 27 November 2008; accepted 4 December 2008. published online 09 March 2009.

Abstract 

Study Design

Case report.

Objective

To assess an eccentric based intervention on an Australian Football player with recurrent hamstring injuries.

Case description

The athlete attempted several conventional rehabilitation programs in the past (e.g. physical therapy, manual therapy, acupuncture, active release, medial gluteal strengthening) with no sustained progress in regards to pain, soreness, or return to sport.

Outcomes

After the first three phases of the intervention (i.e. nine weeks), the optimum angle of peak torque during knee flexion decreased from 37.3 to 23.9 degrees in the injured leg, and from 24.3 to 20.3 degrees in the non-injured leg. After the first nine weeks, the optimum angles then remained constant for another 23 weeks. The optimum angle of peak torque was also shifted in the knee extensors by 3.9 degrees (injured leg) and 3.4 degrees (non-injured leg) after nine weeks and then remained constant for the remaining 23 weeks. Quadriceps to hamstring peak torque ratio's (Q/H ratios) and peak torque during knee flexion and extension remained constant throughout the intervention.

Discussion

An eccentric based intervention was shown to be safe and effective for altering the optimum angle of peak torque (i.e. shifting to longer muscle lengths) for this athlete with recurrent hamstring injuries.

Keywords: Muscle strain, Isokinetic, Rehabilitation, Knee flexion

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PII: S1466-853X(08)00138-7

doi:10.1016/j.ptsp.2008.12.001

Physical Therapy in Sport
Volume 10, Issue 2 , Pages 75-80, May 2009

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