In this episode of the Melbourne Athletic Development Podcast, Associate Professor Matt Bourne discusses his background in sport and exercise science and his research on hamstring strain injuries. He explains that while there has been an increase in the demands of running-based sports, injury rates have not necessarily decreased. One possible reason for this is the poor uptake and compliance with evidence-based injury prevention programs, such as eccentric conditioning. The conversation also explores the variations in hamstring injury management across the globe and the importance of being evidence-based in clinical practice. Matt highlights the benefits of eccentric training in mitigating hamstring injuries, including the structural changes it induces in the muscle and the aponeurosis. The discussion concludes with the potential role of the aponeurosis in injury risk and the need for further research in this area. The conversation explores the relationship between muscle architecture, biomechanics, and injury risk, specifically focusing on hamstring injuries. The guests discuss the effectiveness of different interventions, such as eccentric training and Nordic hamstring exercises, in reducing injury risk. They also delve into the debate around changing tissue capacity versus changing biomechanics to prevent injuries. The conversation highlights the importance of individualized approaches to injury prevention and the need for more research in dynamic muscle architecture and its impact on injury risk. The guests also emphasize the limitations of predicting injuries and the importance of tailoring interventions based on individual factors.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:47 Challenges in Reducing Hamstring Injury Rates

05:31 Variations in Hamstring Injury Management

09:59 The Importance of Evidence-Based Practice

12:27 The Benefits of Eccentric Training

33:09 The Effectiveness of Interventions for Hamstring Injury Prevention

35:08 The Debate: Changing Tissue Capacity vs. Changing Biomechanics

40:36 The Importance of Individualized Approaches to Injury Prevention

53:21 The Need for Research in Dynamic Muscle Architecture and Injury Risk

01:00:22 Challenges in Predicting Injuries and Tailoring Interventions

Melbourne Athletic Development is a sports and injury management clinic based in Melbourne, Australia. To maximise your performance or optimise your injury management contact the team at www.melbourneathleticdevelopment.com.au