Application of eccentric exercise on an Australian Rules football player with recurrent hamstring injuries.
METHODS
Case report.


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


METHODS
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.


RESULTS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Brughelli
Matt
M
School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Western Australia, Australia. m.brughelli@ecu.edu.au
Nosaka
Ken
K
Cronin
John
J
D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015444:Exercise; D005538:Football; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult