title: Changes in Passive Tension of the Hamstring Muscles During a Simulated Soccer Match.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Passive muscle tension is increased after damaging eccentric exercise. Hamstring-strain injury is associated with damaging eccentric muscle actions, but no research has examined changes in hamstring passive muscle tension throughout a simulated sport activity. The authors measured hamstring passive tension throughout a 90-min simulated soccer match (SAFT90), including the warm-up period and every 15 min throughout the 90-min simulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Passive hamstring tension of 15 amateur male soccer players was measured using the instrumented straight-leg-raise test. Absolute torque (Nm) and slope (Nm/°) of the recorded torque-angular position curve were used for data analysis, in addition to total leg range of motion (ROM). Players performed a 15-min prematch warm-up, then performed the SAFT90 including a 15-min halftime rest period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reductions in passive stiffness of 20-50° of passive hip flexion of 22.1-29.2% (P < .05) were observed after the warm-up period. During the SAFT90, passive tension increased in the latter 20% of the range of motion of 10.1-10.9% (P < .05) concomitant to a 4.5% increase in total hamstring ROM (P = .0009).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study imply that hamstring passive tension is reduced after an active warm-up that includes dynamic stretching but does not increase in a pattern suggestive of eccentric induced muscle damage during soccer-specific intermittent exercise. Hamstring ROM and passive tension increases are best explained by improved stretch tolerance.
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Penrith South, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: Ric
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lovell
authors.forename: Jason C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Siegler
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D000070633:Hamstring Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000503:physiopathology; D019415:Torque; D063996:Warm-Up Exercise; D055815:Young Adult