Hamstring Strain in High School Athletes

NCT ID: NCT03248011

Last Updated: 2021-10-04

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

196 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2017-09-27

Study Completion Date

2021-08-31

Brief Summary

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The purpose of the current study is, 1) Determine the effectiveness of injury prevention programs for prevention of hamstring muscle strains, 2) Identify how these programs impact athletes' flexibility, muscle stiffness, strength, and power, and 3) Determine the ability of a state-of-the-art imaging technology, shear wave elastography to predict future hamstring muscle strain injury.

Detailed Description

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Hamstring strains are a significant problem for basketball athletes across levels of play for both sexes. The impact of hamstring muscle strains (HSMS) is significant. Injuries typically result in persistent symptoms and lengthy recovery periods which limit the athlete's practice and play time. Even more significantly, HSMS have high rates of reinjury. It is estimated that approximately one-third of hamstring strains are recurrent. Given the high incidence of HSMS and the substantial tendency for injuries to recur, it has been advocated the greatest impact may be achieved by the development of improved techniques for prevention of initial injury.

Multiple risk factors for HSMS have been identified. Perhaps the strongest modifiable risk factor associated with HSMS is an imbalance between quadriceps and hamstring strength, specifically the eccentric hamstrings and concentric quadriceps strength ratio. The rationale is that sufficient eccentric capacity of the hamstring muscles is necessary to offset the concentric quadriceps contraction during the terminal swing phase of running. Not surprisingly, prevention programs that emphasize eccentric hamstring strengthening have been effective in reduction of HSMS injury rates.Prospective studies have demonstrated mixed results regarding the relationship between hamstring flexibility and hamstring injury, and the effectiveness of a flexibility program for reduction of the incidence of HSMS remains controversial. Stretching duration, frequency, timing of stretching relative to sports activities and the type of stretch being performed have been suggested as important factors in the effectiveness of a flexibility program at reducing injury occurrence. In addition, reduced hip flexor and quadriceps flexibility has been identified as a risk factor for HSMS. Further investigation is necessary to determine if a flexibility program that addresses both anterior and posterior thigh musculature reduces injury risk. The role of neuromuscular (NM) deficits as a risk factor in HSMS injuries is unclear. Inclusion of NM exercises in a six week training period improved lower extremity control and movement discrimination, which has been suggested to contribute to HSMS injury prevention. However, the impact of a NM injury prevention program on HSMS rates has not been established.

Sheer wave elastography (SWE) represents an emerging imaging technology. This real-time imaging technique evaluates the local mechanical properties of muscles. Thus, SWE has the potential to provide more sensitive insight into muscle stiffness than flexibility assessment. Recent studies have utilized this technique to evaluate the effect of lower extremity positioning on hamstring stiffness. The relationship between stiffness measures obtained using SWE and HSMS has not, however, been established.

Key gaps in knowledge regarding HSMS injury prevention programs remain. Most critically, the effectiveness of HSMS prevention programs among basketball athletes is unknown. Furthermore, the comparative effectiveness of eccentric, flexibility, and NM training for reduction of HSMS injuries is also unknown. Assessment of lower extremity strength, rate of power production, flexibility, and stiffness (captured with SWE) may elucidate the mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of injury prevention training, and aid in enhancement of injury prevention programs. Thus, the potential impact of this proposal is profound as our investigative team aims to fill these gaps in knowledge. Ultimately, the results of this study have the potential to 1) reduce injuries among basketball athletes and consequently enhance and lengthen athletic careers, 2) provide scientific rationale underlying the effects of HSMS injury prevention training, and 3) determine if a novel ultrasound imaging technique may be effective in determining risk for HSMS.

Conditions

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Strains Thigh

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

This is a prospective, randomized, repeated measures single- blind clinical trial.
Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Investigators
Group assignment will be masked to investigator.

Study Groups

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Flexibility

Stretching exercise

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Stretching

Intervention Type OTHER

Lower extremity flexibility exercises will be performed

Strength

Eccentric hamstring strengthening exercise

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Strengthening

Intervention Type OTHER

Eccentric hamstring strengthening exercises will be performed

Neuromuscular

Balance exercise

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Neuromuscular

Intervention Type OTHER

Dynamic lower extremity balance and movement control exercises will be performed

Control

No exercise

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Stretching

Lower extremity flexibility exercises will be performed

Intervention Type OTHER

Strengthening

Eccentric hamstring strengthening exercises will be performed

Intervention Type OTHER

Neuromuscular

Dynamic lower extremity balance and movement control exercises will be performed

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* member of high school basketball team
* school agreement to participate in study

Exclusion Criteria

* inability to ambulate independently
* lower extremity or back surgery within 1 year of study enrollment
* presence of neurological disease
Minimum Eligible Age

14 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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General Electric

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role collaborator

TRIA Orthopaedic Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Mayo Clinic

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Nathan D. Schilaty

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Nathan Schilaty, DC, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Mayo Clinic

Locations

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Mayo Clinic in Rochester

Rochester, Minnesota, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Related Links

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Other Identifiers

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17-003905

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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