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Smaller biceps femoris aponeurosis size in legs with a history of hamstring strain injury
Citation
Balshaw, T. G., McDermott, E. J., Massey, G. J., Hartley, C., Kong, P. W., Maden-Wilkinson, T., & Folland, J. (2024). Smaller biceps femoris aponeurosis size in legs with a history of hamstring strain injury. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 45(13), 871-883. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2348-2605
Author
Balshaw, Thomas G.
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Mc Dermott, Emmet J.
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Massey, Garry J.
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Hartley, Chris
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Maden-Wilkinson, Tom
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Folland, Jonathan P.
Abstract
Biceps femoris long head (BFLH) aponeurosis size was compared between legs with and without prior hamstring strain injury (HSI) using within-group (injured vs. uninjured legs of previous unilateral HSI athletes) and between-group (previously injured legs of HSI athletes vs. legs of No prior HSI athletes) approaches. Currently healthy competitive male athletes with Prior HSI history (n=23; ≥1 verified BFLH injury; including a sub-group with unilateral HSI history; most recent HSI 1.6 ± 1.2 years ago) and pair-matched athletes with No prior HSI history (n=23) were MRI scanned. Anonymised axial images were manually segmented to quantify BFLH aponeurosis and muscle size. Prior unilateral HSI athletes’ BFLH aponeurosis maximum width, aponeurosis area, and aponeurosis:muscle area ratio was 14.0-19.6% smaller in previously injured vs. contralateral uninjured legs (paired t-test, 0.008≤p≤0.044). BFLH aponeurosis maximum width and area were also 9.4-16.5% smaller in previously injured legs (n=28) from prior HSI athletes vs. legs (n=46) of No prior HSI athletes (unpaired t-test, 0.001≤p≤0.044). BFLH aponeurosis size was smaller in legs with Prior HSI vs. those without prior HSI. These findings suggest BFLH aponeurosis size, especially maximum width, could be a potential cause or consequence of HSI, with prospective evidence needed to support or refute these possibilities.
Date Issued
2024
Publisher
Thieme
Journal
International Journal of Sports Medicine
Dataset
https://doi.org/10.25340/R4/EBZZ8V