Sprint Biomechanics Associated With Hamstring Strain Injury in Football: A Systematic Review and Mechanistic Synthesis
Abstract
Background. Hamstring strain injury (HSI) is one of the most common non-contact injuries in football and frequently occurs during sprinting. Although several studies have examined sprint biomechanics in relation to HSI, findings remain dispersed across epidemiological and laboratory-based investigations, limiting the understanding of how sprint mechanics may contribute to injury risk.
Aim. To systematically synthesise evidence regarding the association between sprint biomechanics and HSI in football players, with particular attention to lumbopelvic control, neuromuscular activation, and force-production characteristics.
Methods. A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251248990). Searches were performed in Scopus and PubMed. Studies involving football players that investigated sprint-related biomechanical variables and reported injury outcomes or biomechanical indicators associated with HSI were eligible. Due to substantial heterogeneity in study design, biomechanical measurements, and outcome reporting, findings were synthesised narratively.
Results. Six studies met the inclusion criteria, including two prospective cohort studies, one case–control study, and three mechanistic laboratory investigations. Prospective evidence suggested that greater gluteus maximus and trunk muscle activation during sprinting were associated with lower HSI occurrence, whereas increased anterior pelvic tilt and thoracic side bending were associated with greater injury susceptibility. Athletes with previous HSI demonstrated larger fatigue-related reductions in horizontal force production during repeated sprinting. Mechanistic studies consistently identified the late-swing and early-stance phases as periods of elevated strain and activation of the biceps femoris long head.
Conclusions. Current evidence suggests that impaired lumbopelvic control, altered neuromuscular activation, and reduced horizontal force production may contribute to increased hamstring loading during sprinting in football players. While causal inferences remain limited by the small number and heterogeneity of available studies, integrating epidemiological and mechanistic evidence provides a framework for understanding sprint-related HSI mechanisms and may inform injury prevention and rehabilitation strategies.
Keywords: Football performance; hamstring strain injury; horizontal force production; lumbopelvic control; neuromuscular activation; sprint biomechanics
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