The architectural characteristics of the hamstring muscles do not differ between male and female elite-level rugby union players
Purpose: To determine whether differences exist in the architectural characteristics of the hamstring muscles of elite-level male and female rugby union players.Methods: Forty elite-level rugby union players (male n = 20, female n = 20) participated in this cross-sectional study. A sonographer acqui...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2023.1129061/full |
| _version_ | 1811176983302766592 |
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| author | Kevin Cronin Shane Foley Seán Cournane Giuseppe De Vito Fearghal Kerin Fearghal Kerin Garreth Farrell Eamonn Delahunt Eamonn Delahunt |
| author_facet | Kevin Cronin Shane Foley Seán Cournane Giuseppe De Vito Fearghal Kerin Fearghal Kerin Garreth Farrell Eamonn Delahunt Eamonn Delahunt |
| author_sort | Kevin Cronin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose: To determine whether differences exist in the architectural characteristics of the hamstring muscles of elite-level male and female rugby union players.Methods: Forty elite-level rugby union players (male n = 20, female n = 20) participated in this cross-sectional study. A sonographer acquired static ultrasound images using a 92 mm linear transducer to quantify (via a semi-automated tracing software tool) the architectural characteristics (muscle length, fascicle length, pennation angle, and muscle thickness) of the biceps femoris long head and semimembranosus muscles of participants’ left limb. Muscle length and muscle thickness of the biceps femoris short head and semitendinosus muscles of participants’ left limb were also quantified. Bonferroni adjusted independent samples t-tests were performed to evaluate whether differences exist in the architectural characteristics of the hamstring muscles of elite-level male and female rugby union players.Results: There were no significant differences in fascicle length or pennation angle of the hamstring muscles of elite-level male and female rugby union players. Some significant differences in muscle thickness (biceps femoris short head, and semimembranosus) and muscle length (biceps femoris short head, biceps femoris long head, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus) were observed; in all cases the male players had thicker and longer muscles.Conclusion: At a group level, hamstring muscle fascicle length and pennation angle are unlikely to be a sex-specific intrinsic risk factor for Hamstring strain injuries. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T20:00:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dff09ff629c4455bb2cd81307f3ee401 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-042X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T20:00:52Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-dff09ff629c4455bb2cd81307f3ee4012023-01-27T07:08:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2023-01-011410.3389/fphys.2023.11290611129061The architectural characteristics of the hamstring muscles do not differ between male and female elite-level rugby union playersKevin Cronin0Shane Foley1Seán Cournane2Giuseppe De Vito3Fearghal Kerin4Fearghal Kerin5Garreth Farrell6Eamonn Delahunt7Eamonn Delahunt8School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, IrelandSchool of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, IrelandSchool of Physics, University College Dublin, Dublin, IrelandDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padua, ItalyLeinster Rugby, Dublin, IrelandSchool of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, IrelandLeinster Rugby, Dublin, IrelandSchool of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, IrelandInstitute for Sport and Health, University College Dublin, Dublin, IrelandPurpose: To determine whether differences exist in the architectural characteristics of the hamstring muscles of elite-level male and female rugby union players.Methods: Forty elite-level rugby union players (male n = 20, female n = 20) participated in this cross-sectional study. A sonographer acquired static ultrasound images using a 92 mm linear transducer to quantify (via a semi-automated tracing software tool) the architectural characteristics (muscle length, fascicle length, pennation angle, and muscle thickness) of the biceps femoris long head and semimembranosus muscles of participants’ left limb. Muscle length and muscle thickness of the biceps femoris short head and semitendinosus muscles of participants’ left limb were also quantified. Bonferroni adjusted independent samples t-tests were performed to evaluate whether differences exist in the architectural characteristics of the hamstring muscles of elite-level male and female rugby union players.Results: There were no significant differences in fascicle length or pennation angle of the hamstring muscles of elite-level male and female rugby union players. Some significant differences in muscle thickness (biceps femoris short head, and semimembranosus) and muscle length (biceps femoris short head, biceps femoris long head, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus) were observed; in all cases the male players had thicker and longer muscles.Conclusion: At a group level, hamstring muscle fascicle length and pennation angle are unlikely to be a sex-specific intrinsic risk factor for Hamstring strain injuries.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2023.1129061/fullultrasoundhamstring architectureinjuryfemale athletemale athlete |
| spellingShingle | Kevin Cronin Shane Foley Seán Cournane Giuseppe De Vito Fearghal Kerin Fearghal Kerin Garreth Farrell Eamonn Delahunt Eamonn Delahunt The architectural characteristics of the hamstring muscles do not differ between male and female elite-level rugby union players Frontiers in Physiology ultrasound hamstring architecture injury female athlete male athlete |
| title | The architectural characteristics of the hamstring muscles do not differ between male and female elite-level rugby union players |
| title_full | The architectural characteristics of the hamstring muscles do not differ between male and female elite-level rugby union players |
| title_fullStr | The architectural characteristics of the hamstring muscles do not differ between male and female elite-level rugby union players |
| title_full_unstemmed | The architectural characteristics of the hamstring muscles do not differ between male and female elite-level rugby union players |
| title_short | The architectural characteristics of the hamstring muscles do not differ between male and female elite-level rugby union players |
| title_sort | architectural characteristics of the hamstring muscles do not differ between male and female elite level rugby union players |
| topic | ultrasound hamstring architecture injury female athlete male athlete |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2023.1129061/full |
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