Northumbria postgrad leads research into the prevention of hamstring injuriesA former postgraduate student at Northumbria University is leading research into preventing hamstring injuries - which are so often the cause of misery for our top footballers and other sporting people. The review by physiotherapist and Northumbria University graduate Elliott Goldman, 29, has revealed that only six key pieces of research on prevention methods for the injury have been published internationally - despite hamstring injuries blighting the careers of some of the world’s top footballers and having a direct impact on the bottom line of clubs worldwide. Now Elliott is calling on physiotherapists and coaches to help prevent hamstring injuries by incorporating prevention techniques, which have been highlighted as being effective in current research, into their prevention programmes. Elliott says: 'I really expected to find a huge amount of research material in this area, as hamstring injuries are so common and there are a number of different methods currently used to help prevent injury. I was keen to find out if there was evidence to support a particular method or range of methods of prevention. However, after an extensive trawl of both published and unpublished literature, I discovered that very little research has been done to support the methods currently used in practice to prevent hamstring injuries. As these injuries can have a devastating effect on an individual’s career and a massive economic impact on some of the top flight clubs, I believe it is essential that further research is undertaken.' His research ‘Interventions for preventing hamstring injuries’ has now been published by the influential Cochrane Collaboration in the Cochrane Library – the world leader in evidence-based healthcare – and it analyses the effectiveness and strength of evidence behind current methods of preventing hamstring injuries. Elliott’s research into current injury prevention methods began as part of his MSc in Physiotherapy at Northumbria University, when he undertook the research project for his dissertation. Following graduation, he teamed up with his research supervisor Dr Anna Jones from Northumbria’s School of Health, Community and Education Studies, to approach the Cochrane Collaboration in a bid to develop the research further. Elliott is now sending his published review to sports clubs across the UK and he hopes coaches and physiotherapists will help take his research a step further. He says: ‘Physiotherapists and coaches have a great opportunity to help us all understand how effective the different methods of prevention can be in practice. They work with youngsters and see them at their peak of fitness. By incorporating the current evidence-based prevention methods into their team and individual fitness plans, I believe they can both help reduce hamstring injuries amongst their players, and make a real difference to future generations by recording their findings and contributing to future research.’ Find out more about postgraduate study at Northumbria University. Looking for funding for postgraduate studies in 2010? Check out the exclusive bursaries on offer from Postgrad Solutions. Content added on 16th April 2010. |
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