ISOKINETIC STRENGTH TESTING DOES NOT PREDICT HAMSTRING INJURY IN AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALLERS

Objective-To determine the relation of hamstring and quadriceps muscle strength and imbalance to hamstring injury using a prospective observ ational cohort study Method-A total of 102 senior male Australian Rule s footballers aged 22.2 (3.6) years were tested at the start of a foot ball season. Maximum voluntary concentric and eccentric torque of the hamstring and quadriceps muscles of both legs was assessed using a Kin -Com isokinetic dynamometer at angular velocities of 60 and 180 degree s/second. Twelve (11.8%) players sustained clinically diagnosed hamstr ing strains which caused them to miss one or more matches over the ens uing season. Results-There were no significant differences for any of the isokinetic variables comparing the injured cmd non-injured legs in players with unilateral hamstring strains (n = 9). Neither the injure d nor the non-injured leg of injured players differed from the mean of left and right legs in non-injured players for any isokinetic variabl e. The hamstring to opposite hamstring ratios also did not differ betw een injured and non-injured players. A hamstring to opposite hamstring radio of less than 0.90 and a hamstring to quadriceps ratio of less t han 0.60 were not associated with an increased risk of hamstring injur y. A significantly greater percentage of players who sustained in hams tring strain reported a history of hamstring strain compared with non- injured players (p = 0.02). However, this was not I:elated to muscle w eakness or imbalance. Conclusions-Isokinetic muscle strength testing w as not able to directly discriminate Australian Rules football players at risk for a hamstring injury.