Hamstring and knee injuries are associated with isometric hip and trunk muscle strength in elite Australian Rules and Rugby League players

• Published in: Journal of science and medicine in sport 2024-03, Vol.27 (3), p.172-178
• Main Authors: Hajek, Martin, Williams, Morgan D., Bourne, Matthew N., Roberts, Llion A., Morris, Norman R., Shield, Anthony J., Headrick, Jonathon, Duhig, Steven J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Articular; Athletic Injuries - epidemiology; Australia; Australian football; Back muscles; Football; Hamstring Muscles; Humans; Joint and ligament injuries; Kinematics; Knee; Knee Injuries; Leg Injuries; Ligaments; Morphology; Muscle Strength; Paraspinal Muscles - physiology; Professional soccer; Prospective Studies; Rugby; Sports injuries; Strain injury; Ultrasonic imaging
• ISSN: 1440-2440; 1878-1861
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2023.10.019

This study investigated relationships between isometric trunk and hip extensor strength, lumbar muscle morphology, and the risk of hamstring and knee ligament injuries in Australian Football League and National Rugby League players. Prospective cohort study. Trunk and hip extensor strength, multifidus and quadratus lumborum cross-sectional area were measured during the 2020 pre-season. Logistic regressions and decision trees were employed to explore associations between maximum strength, strength endurance, multifidus and quadratus lumborum cross-sectional area, age, previous injuries, and hamstring and knee ligament injury risk. Greater strength endurance [odds ratio = 0.42 (0.23–0.74), p = 0.004] and maximum strength [odds ratio = 0.55 (0.31–0.94), p = 0.039] reduced hamstring injury risk. Increased risk of knee ligament injuries was associated with larger multifidus [odds ratio = 1.66 (1.14–2.45), p = 0.008] and higher multifidus to quadratus lumborum ratio (odds ratio = 1.57 (1.13–2.23), p = 0.008]. Decision tree models indicated that low strength endurance (