Hamstring activation deficits in different jumping directions in athletes with a history of hamstring strain injuries: a cross-sectional laboratory study

This study aimed to investigate the hamstring onset time and recruitment level during jumping tasks in athletes with chronic hamstring strain injuries. Thirteen hamstring injured athletes and thirteen matched healthy athletes were recruited. Activation onset time and muscle recruitment (median frequency of the EMG) of the lateral hamstring (LH) and medial hamstring (MH) was measured during double leg jumps in vertical and horizontal directions on the force platforms. The peak vertical ground reaction force and loading rate were obtained for all jumps. The injured group showed a delayed onset time (p = 0.029) and a lower recruitment of the LH during the landing (p = 0.018) than the control group. Activation deficits in the injured group led to a higher landing force and loading rate. Additionally, the LH and MH were lesser recruited in the vertical direction than the horizontal directions in the landing. In conclusion, athletes with hamstring injuries show hamstring activation deficits of the injured leg during jumping leading to degrading jump-landing performance. Also, jumping in different directions play a role to modify the recruitment of the hamstrings in the injured athletes. Therefore, movement plane is suggested to be considered in clinical rehabilitation for the hamstring injury.