Why are hamstring injury rates going up in elite football? | Lateral Think Podcast Ep 119

Jack and John discuss a recent paper on hamstring injury rates in professional European football over the past 20 seasons. They explore the factors contributing to the increasing injury rates and question the effectiveness of current injury prevention strategies. They highlight the multifactorial nature of hamstring injuries, including strength, flexibility, running biomechanics, and fatigue. The hosts also discuss the limitations of focusing solely on strength training, such as the Nordic hamstring curl, and emphasize the importance of considering other factors like flexibility and tissue strain. They also touch on the controversial topic of changes in muscle architecture with eccentric loading. The conversation explores the factors contributing to the increasing rates of hamstring injuries in European football. It emphasizes the importance of training stimulus that provides the necessary capacities for sporting tasks and gradual exposure to high-intensity sprinting. The conversation also highlights the impact of fatigue and the demanding schedule of football leagues on muscle tissue and injury risk. It discusses the role of biomechanics, metabolic conditioning, and the need for a comprehensive approach to injury prevention. The conversation concludes by addressing the limitations of current injury prevention strategies and the importance of collaboration between coaches, sports medicine staff, and players. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Apologies 04:03 Factors Contributing to Increasing Injury Rates 18:46 Limitations of Current Injury Prevention Strategies 25:02 The Multifactorial Nature of Hamstring Injuries 27:18 Importance of Athletes' Beliefs and Feelings 29:21 The Limitations of Maximal Eccentric Loading 32:51 Considering Factors Beyond Strength Training 36:22 Importance of training stimulus and gradual exposure to high-intensity sprinting 43:22 Role of biomechanics in hamstring injuries 50:41 Limitations of current injury prevention strategies Melbourne Athletic Development is a sports and injury management clinic based in Melbourne, Australia. To maximise your performance or optimise your injury management contact the team at www.melbourneathleticdevelopment.com.au