RESEARCH SUMMARY: The role of neuromuscular inhibition in hamstring strain injury recurrence (Fyfe et al., 2013)

Title: The role of neuromuscular inhibition in hamstring strain injury recurrence

Author/s: Fyfe (@jacksonfyfe) Opar (@davidopar), Williams (@drmorgs), Shield (@das_shield)

Year: 2013

Journal: Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology (ISSN: 1050-6411)

Question: What is neuromuscular inhibition and what’s it role in HSI?

Key Takeaway: Neuromuscular inhibition and the conceptual framework presented in this review help to illustrate a potential cause for undesirable adaptations seen post hamstring strain injury, and even post-rehabilitation.

Link: http://researchbank.acu.edu.au/fhs_pub/6666/

Summary: This review paper outlines a theoretical relationship between previous hamstring injury, neuromuscular inhibition and persistent (or possibly even permanent?) changes in biceps femoris fascicle lengths which may increase the risk of injury recurrence. The argument is that hamstring injury recurrence rates will be high unless neuromuscular inhibition is overcome in rehabilitation or post-rehabilitation training.

Key Findings:

• The persistence of risk factors and the development of maladaptations following hamstring strain injury may explain injury recurrence.
• It is proposed that pain-driven neuromuscular inhibition of hamstring voluntary activation occurs following hamstring strain injury.
• This inhibition was proposed to have a detrimental effect on hamstring recovery by limiting hamstring exposure to eccentric stimuli at long muscle lengths during rehabilitative exercise.