Date of Award

2012

Degree Name

Exercise Science

College

College of Health Professions

Type of Degree

M.S.

Document Type

Thesis

First Advisor

Matthew Comeau

Second Advisor

Gary McIlvain

Third Advisor

Tim Tolbert

Abstract

Hamstring strains have a long recovery time, a high rate of recurrence, and are very common injuries in sports. Fatigue, improper warm-up, previous injury, strength imbalance, and poor flexibility have all been linked to hamstring injuries. Initial treatment of the hamstring typically consists of rest, ice, compression, elevation, and pain relief. However, no optimal treatment regimen has been developed based on carefully designed clinical trials. This study tested fourteen college-aged male and female subjects. Their gait was recorded using video tracking software with and without an elastic band (Theraband® Akron, Ohio) attached to the anterior surface of their waist and proximal tibia utilizing 1.5 inch white athletic tape (Johnson & Johnson© New Brunswick, New Jersey). With the results, a one-way, repeated measures ANOVA was conducted with the factor being the use of an elastic band and the dependent variable being angular velocity and its associated angle of flexion. The results for the repeated measures ANOVA indicated a significant time effect, Wilk’s Λ = 0.512, F (1,13) = 12.414, p = 0.004. The results from our study show that angular velocity increased earlier in the range of motion than when the subject was not wearing the band. In order for the patient to control the leg, the hamstring muscle would have to assume more eccentric load. From this increased eccentric load, we can assume there would be an increase in eccentric strength and a decrease in injuries.

Subject(s)

Hamstring muscle - Medical care.

Sports medicine.

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