Comparing activity of the gluteus maximus and hamstring muscles in fatigue conditions between hamstring injury-experienced and inexperienced individuals.

INTRODUCTION

Muscle fatigue is considered a risk factor for hamstring injury (HSI), which occurs during high-speed running. To decrease this risk, higher gluteal muscle activity may have a role to play. This study aimed to compare the muscle activities of the gluteus maximus (GMax) and hamstring (HS) muscles between HSI-experienced and inexperienced people in pre- and post-fatigue conditions during the swing and stance phases of running.

METHODS

Participants were asked to run 13 sets of 20 km/h on the treadmill. GMax and HS muscle activities of the (i) injured and (ii) uninjured legs in the HSI-experienced group and (iii) dominant leg (healthy leg) in the inexperienced group were collected using the first run as pre-fatigue data, and the last (13th) run as post-fatigue data.

RESULTS

GMax activity of the injured legs was higher than in the healthy leg during the stance phase in pre-fatigue condition (p < 0.05). The activity of the GMax and semitendinosus were higher in the uninjured legs than in the healthy legs during the swing phase in pre-fatigue condition (p < 0.05). However, no differences in muscle activities between pre- and post-fatigue or the injured and uninjured legs were found.

CONCLUSION

The GMax may prevent HSI recurrence during the stance phase of running. The GMax and semitendinosus of the uninjured leg may act as stabilizers of the body while the injured leg is placed on the ground.