South African Journal of Physiotherapy (Aug 1990)

Acute hamstring injuries in rugby players: The influence of positioning during ice therapy on muscle length

  • C. Becker,
  • D. Rayner,
  • L. van Zyl,
  • E. Walters,
  • C. P. Malherbe

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4102/sajp.v46i3.784
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 46, no. 3
pp. 11 – 16

Abstract

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The effect on muscle length of positioning with ice application to acute hamstring injuries in rugby players was examined. Ice was applied with the hamstring muscle group in either the lengthened or the shortened position. Players with grade I or II hamstring injuries were randomly allocated (via the randomized block method) to the different treatment methods. The active hamstring length of the injured leg was measured by means of knee extension before and after treatment on days 1, 2 and 3 post-injury. The uninjured leg was measured on days 1 and 3. The discussion of results covered only the clinical observations since the experimental group was too small for statistical analysis.

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