title: Effects of a low volume injury prevention program on the hamstring torque angle relationship.
abstract: The effects of a 4-week lower body injury prevention program on knee muscle torque-angle relationship were examined in soccer players. Twenty men were randomly allocated to either a control (n = 10) or training group (n = 10). The training group underwent three training sessions per week, comprising 3 sets of 8 repetitions of one open-chain exercise (Nordic curl) and two closed-chain exercises-forward lunges on a Bosu balance trainer and eccentric single leg dead lifts. Maximal peak knee flexion torque was measured at 35°, 45°, 60°, 80°, 90°, and 100° pre- and post-intervention. Significant improvements were observed only at 80° (p = .001; d = .94) along with a nonsignificant trend at 35° (p = .081; d = .43). As these modifications might protect athletes against muscle and joint injuries, the use of both stable-open and unstable-closed kinetic chain exercises emphasizing eccentric hamstring and knee stabilization actions should be integrated into injury prevention programs in team sports athletes.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Sports Science and Human Performance, School of Science, University of Greenwich, Kent, UK. f.j.naclerio@gre.ac.uk
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Naclerio
authors.forename: Avery D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Faigenbaum
authors.forename: Eneko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Larumbe
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goss-Sampson
authors.forename: Txomin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Perez-Bilbao
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jimenez
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beedie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000293:injuries* / Q000502:physiology; D015397:Program Evaluation; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*; D012916:Soccer; D019415:Torque; D055815:Young Adult