Sprint running mechanics are associated with hamstring strain injury: a 6-month prospective cohort study of 126 elite male footballers

Bramah, Christopher ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3644-9873, Rhodes, Samantha, Clarke-Cornwell, Alexandra ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9510-7676 and Dos’Santos, Thomas ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2715-0116 (2025) Sprint running mechanics are associated with hamstring strain injury: a 6-month prospective cohort study of 126 elite male footballers. British Journal of Sports Medicine. ISSN 0306-3674

Preview

Accepted Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (236kB) | Preview

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association between sprint running biomechanics and sprint-related hamstring strain injury (HSI) in elite male football players. Methods: This prospective cohort study recruited 126 professional male football players from eight clubs in the English football league, who were followed across a 6-month period. Maximal velocity sprint running videos (240 fps) were collected from five teams during preseason (June to August) and three teams during the in-season period (October to March) and subsequently assessed using the Sprint Mechanics Assessment Score (S-MAS) by a single, blinded assessor. Sprint-related HSI within the previous 12 months and any new MRI-confirmed sprint-related HSI were reported by club medical staff. Incidence rate ratios were calculated using a Poisson regression model to determine the association between S-MAS and new sprint-related HSIs. Results: There were 23 players with a previous sprint-related HSI and 17 new HSIs during the follow-up period, with 14 sprint-related injuries. S-MAS values were significantly greater among players with a previous HSI (median difference (MD): 1, p=0.007, 95% CI: 0 to 3) and those sustaining a new sprint-related HSI (MD: 2, p=0.006, 95% CI: 1 to 3) compared with uninjured players. Adjusting for age and previous injury found a significant association between the S-MAS and prospective sprint-related HSIs, with an adjusted incidence rate ratio of 1.33 (95% CI: 1.01 to 1.76) for each one-point increase in S-MAS. Conclusions: This is the first study to identify an association between sprint running kinematics and prospective sprint-related HSI in elite male football players. Sprint running mechanics assessed using the S-MAS were associated with both past and future HSIs, with a 33% increase in the risk of a new HSI with every one-point increase in S-MAS. Given the association to injury, evaluating sprint mechanics within rehabilitation and injury prevention may be warranted.