AUTHOR=Pimenta Ricardo , Antunes Hugo , Bruno Paula , Veloso A. P. 

TITLE=Hamstrings mechanical properties profiling in football players of different competitive levels and positions after a repeated sprint protocol

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2023.1315564

DOI=10.3389/fphys.2023.1315564

ISSN=1664-042X

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Purpose:</bold> This study compares the average speed, knee flexor peak torque and shear modulus of the hamstrings after a repeated sprint task, in football players of different competitive levels and playing positions.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Fifty-four football field players without hamstring strain injury history participated, 15 being categorized as professional (2nd league) and 39 as semi-professional (17 in 3rd and 22 in 4th league). Muscle shear modulus was assessed using ultrasound-based shear wave elastography at rest and at 20% of maximal voluntary isometric effort before and immediately after the repeated sprint protocol.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> No significant differences were seen in average sprint speed between competitive levels (<italic>p</italic> = 0.07; η2<italic>p</italic> = 0.28) and positions (<italic>p</italic> = 0.052; η2<italic>p</italic> = 0.29). Moreover, the sprint fatigue index showed no significant differences between competitive levels (<italic>p</italic> = 0.14; η2<italic>p</italic> = 0.08) and playing positions (<italic>p</italic> = 0.89; η2<italic>p</italic> = 0.05). No significant differences were observed in hamstring shear modulus changes between competitive levels (<italic>p</italic> = 0.94; η2<italic>p</italic> = 0.03) and positions (<italic>p</italic> = 0.92; η2<italic>p</italic> = 0.03). Peak torque changes also showed non-significant association with competitive levels (<italic>p</italic> = 0.46; η2<italic>p</italic> = 0.03) and positions (<italic>p</italic> = 0.60; η2<italic>p</italic> = 0.02).</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> The results of this study suggest that the average sprint speed performance parameter and mechanical parameters are not able to distinguish football players of different competitive levels and positions.</p>