Lower Limb Muscle Injuries Research Articles

Beyond the Finish Line: Muscle Injuries in Athletic Competition

Objectives. The study aimed to compare the incidence of muscle injuries in the qualifying rounds, semifinals and finals in athletics. Materials and Methods. A total of 14 male and 12 female athletes who participated in all rounds (preliminaries, semifinals, and finals) of the 100 m, 200 m, and 400 m matches were analyzed over a 4-year period starting in 2021-2024. The female athletes were aged 22.4 ± 3.81 years, with a mean height of 167 ± 8.6 cm, and weight — 64.6 ± 17.5 kg. The male athletes were aged 23.4 ± 3.82, having an average height of 169 ± 8.3 cm, and weight — 66.4 ± 15.8 kg. A t-test was used to conduct comparative assessment of performance between finals, semifinals, and preliminaries for each gender and event. A 95% confidence interval was calculated separately for each gender, event, and round. Additionally, incidence rates were compared. The significance level was accepted at p < 0.05. Results. HMI (hamstring muscle injuries) incidence rate for female qualifiers was found to be 1.50 (1.05-1.95), semifinals — 1.33 (0.79-1.88), and the final — 1.91 (1.44-2.38). LLMI (lower limb muscle injuries) incidence rate among female qualifiers was 1.50 (0.58-2.42), semifinals — 1.00 (1.00-1.00), and the final — 1.55 (1.36-1.74). HMI incidence rate in male qualifiers was 0.50 (0.08-1.28), semifinals — 0.67 (0.77-2.10), and 1.00 (0.34-1.66) in the final. LLMI incidence rate for male qualifiers was 0.40 (0.28-1.08), semifinals — 0.24 (0.55-1.05), and the final revealed 0.60 (0.08-1.28). Conclusions. The highest incidence of muscle injury in all forms among men was observed in the all-round category. In women, hamstring muscle injuries occurred in the final, while lower limb muscle injuries were most prevalent in the preliminaries and semifinals.

Is the risk of muscle injuries higher in the finals than in previous rounds of the 100 m, 200 m and 400 m sprints of international athletics championships?

ObjectivesTo compare incidence rates of lower limb muscle injuries (LLMIs) and hamstring muscle injuries (HMIs) in 100 m, 200 m and 400 m sprints disciplines between finals, semi-finals and heats of international athletics championships. DesignProspective total population study. MethodsWe analysed in-competition LLMIs and HMIs of female and male athletes during eight championships between 2009 and 2022. ResultsLLMI and HMI incidence rates in 100 m finals were significantly higher than in heats and semi-finals for female and male athletes. HMI incidence rates were significantly higher in 200 m finals than heats and semi-finals for male athletes. ConclusionsLLMI and HMI risk was higher in finals compared to previous rounds during international athletics championships.

Magnetic resonance imaging predicts the days lost from training and competition: evaluation of 56 indirect muscle injuries in professional football players.

Lower limb muscle injuries have a strong impact in training and official competitions stoppage for professional football players. This study aimed to explore the relationship between oedema-like changes found on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in acute indirect thigh injuries muscles and the time required for the athlete to return to individual training - "return to training" (RTT) and for full availability for official competitions - "return to play" (RTP). Professional football players from 2017/2018 to 2021/2022 seasons top league team with clinical and ultrasound (US) diagnosis of acute hamstrings or quadriceps muscle injury, confirmed on 48/72h subsequent MRI, were included. MRI images were retrospectively re-evaluated. MRI parameters evaluated were cross-sectional area (CSA), cranio-caudal extension (CCE), distance to nearest insertion (DI) and volume (V). Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to find factors related to RTT, RTP, and episodes of reinjuries. Thirty-four first traumatic muscle injuries met the inclusion criteria. The mean time to RTT and RTP was 22 (4-49) and 25 (4-55) days, respectively. CCE and V resulted as independent predictive MRI variables for the time to RTT (P=0.012) and RTP (P=0.02), respectively. Thresholds of CCE≥11.31 cm and V ≥19.5cc can predict a time to RTT≥22 days (Odds Ratio [OR] 9.5) and RTP≥25 days (OR 4.583), respectively. The decision on the time required for RTP is based on clinic and imaging evaluation; CCE and V of the MRI oedema-like changes help to define the prognosis of the injury.

Body Balance after Fascial Therapy in Athletes with Soft Lower Limb Muscle Injuries

Background: Most injuries in competitive sports are due to overstrain and excessive muscular and fascial tension. This study aimed to assess the effects of a single session of fascial therapy on balance and lower limb weight-bearing in professional athletes following a lower limb soft-tissue injury. Methods: A pedobarographic platform was used to assess the weight-bearing on both lower limbs and corporal balance. A total of 41 athletes with an acute soft-tissue injury involving the quadriceps femoris muscle were included in the study. Each patient underwent myofascial therapy in the injured limb only. The therapy was intended to release tension and improve proprioception. Results: The injured and healthy limbs showed significant asymmetry in body weight distribution. Before treatment, the patients bore less weight on the injured limb than on the healthy limb. After fascial therapy, eyes-closed tests showed an improved weight distribution symmetry between the two lower limbs. There were no significant differences in the values of the evaluated balance parameters between those measured at baseline and those measured after the therapy, measured after the rehabilitation session. Conclusions: A single fascial therapy session has a beneficial effect on corporal balance in runners with an injured lower limb.

Lower Extremity Muscle Morphology and Plantar Loading During Squatting with Different Heel Heights

Objective: Although it is widely reported that high-heeled changes gait pattern in terms of motions and forces throughout the body, the biomechanics while high-heeled squatting has not been examined. This study aimed to explore the acute effects of different heel heights on muscle morphology and plantar loading during high-heeled squatting. Methods: Fourteen healthy females performed squats on high-heeled shoes with different heights: flat (0.8 cm), moderate (4.0 cm), and high (7.0 cm). Muscle thickness and pennation angle of selected lower limb muscles were measured by ultrasound imaging. Plantar pressure distribution and COP trajectory during an entire squatting motion were recorded. Results: As the heel height increased, the average and peak pressure consistently increased in the heel and hallux regions, while reversely changed in MF and LF regions. In addition, the selected lower limb muscles except for the lateral gastrocnemius and vastus medialis showed significant differences in muscle thickness and pennation angle between heel heights. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that increased heel height would enhance the immediate effects on muscle morphology as well as plantar pressure redistribution potentially causing lower limb muscle fatigue and injuries.

Musculoskeletal injury outcomes: 2-year retrospective service evaluation of a UK defence primary care rehabilitation facility (PCRF)

IntroductionMusculoskeletal injury represents the leading cause of medical discharge from the UK Armed Forces. This study evaluates effectiveness of care provision within a large primary care rehabilitation facility (PCRF) against...

Lower limb muscle injuries: The good, the bad and the ugly

Injuries to the lower limb muscles are a common cause of absence from training and competition in athletes. The different muscular groups of the thigh and leg are involved in various activities with kicking and sprinting being responsible for the largest number of injuries. The muscle acts on bone through the tendon and the fascia. The failure of one or more of these structures results in various degrees of loss of function of the muscle(s) involved. Usually, the point of weakness is the interface between different structures with different elastic properties (myofascial, myotendinous, avulsion). Diagnostic imaging is best performed by MRI that provides valuable information about the severity of the injury and its anatomical extent. In this article, we will review the MRI features of muscle injuries which can be used to guide return to play. We will emphasize the clinical implications of the MRI findings by dividing the muscle injuries into three categories “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” to help the clinician in the planning of the most appropriate rehabilitation strategy.

Higher chronic loads before returning to training accelerate return to play time but lead to higher reinjury rates following lower limb muscle injury in elite Australian football players

Higher chronic loads before returning to training accelerate return to play time but lead to higher reinjury rates following lower limb muscle injury in elite Australian football players

Magnetic resonance imaging of lower limb muscle injury

Abstract Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of lower limb traumatic muscle injuries. Methods: From July 2016 to

Pattern of muscle injuries and predictors of return-to-play duration among Malaysian athletes

The purpose of this study was to investigate the pattern of muscle injuries and the factors that predict the return-to-play duration among Malaysian athletes. This is a retrospective review of the case notes of athletes who attended the National Sports Institute Clinic in Malaysia. The medical records of athletes with muscle injury, diagnosed on clinical assessment and confirmed by diagnostic ultrasonography, were included for final analysis. From June 2006 to December 2009, 397 cases of muscle injury were diagnosed among 360 athletes. The median age of the athletes with muscle injuries was 20.0 years. Muscle injuries were mostly diagnosed among national-level athletes and frequently involved the lower limb, specifically the hamstring muscle group. Nearly all of the athletes (99.2%) were treated conservatively. The median return-to-play duration was 7.4 weeks. Athletes who waited more than one week before seeking medical attention, those with recurrent muscle injuries and female athletes were significantly more likely (p < 0.05) to take more than six weeks before returning to the sport. Grade 2 lower limb muscle injury was commonly diagnosed among national-level athletes in this study. The frequency of weekly physiotherapy sessions did not affect the return-to-play duration. Factors such as initial consultation at more than one week post injury, recurrent muscle injuries and female gender were significant predictors of return-to-play duration among Malaysian athletes. These predictive factors should be kept in mind during clinical assessment so as to aid in prognosticating recovery after muscle injury.