Posterior thigh muscles activity during the active H-test: An electromyographic and kinematic analysis

H-test; Hamstring extensibility; Kinematic analysis; Muscle recruitment; Muscle stiffness; Complementary and Manual Therapy; Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation; Rehabilitation; Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Abstract :

[en] The Askling's H-test is considered a useful return to play criterion after a hamstring muscle injury (HMI). However, it assesses only the active and passive flexibility of posterior thigh muscles. This may lead the practitioner to underestimate a compensation or abnormal movement pattern. The aim of this study was to analyze these kinematic aspects and their reliability, and evaluate the hamstring (HM) and gluteus maximus (GM) muscles' activities. Twelve healthy male volunteers were tested during two session of three trials for passive and active tests. Dynamic flexibility (97.2 ± 6.0°) was significantly greater than the passive one (70.5 ± 14.7°) (p < 0.001), and good intra-individual reproductibility for most kinematic characteristics was observed. Biceps Femoris long head, semitendinosus and GM mean activities (20.1 ± 11.2%; 14.3 ± 7.3% and 25.2 ± 22.1%, respectively) were found to be low to moderate, indicating that only a moderate level of activity occurred during the active H-test, in comparison to other movements such as sprinting itself. In addition, the activity of the posterior thigh muscles during the active H-test appeared to be variable among the volunteers. These findings suggest that the H-test should be interpreted on an individual basis rather than relying on general characteristics, and be considered as an intermediate tool before more strenuous activities such as returning to sprint. With this comprehensive approach, clinicians can gain a more accurate understanding of their patients' progress and make more informed decisions about their readiness to return to play.

Disciplines :

Orthopedics, rehabilitation & sports medicine

Author, co-author :

Ferré, Antoine ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Unités de recherche interfacultaires > Motion analysis research unit (MARU) ; Department of Motricity Sciences, Belgium

Delvaux, François ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des Sciences de l'activité physique et de la réadaptation ; Department of Motricity Sciences, Belgium

Schwartz, Cédric ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des Sciences de l'activité physique et de la réadaptation > Kinésithérapie générale et réadaptation ; Department of Motricity Sciences, Belgium

Croisier, Jean-Louis ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des Sciences de l'activité physique et de la réadaptation > Kinésithérapie générale et réadaptation ; Department of Motricity Sciences, Belgium

Language :

English

Title :

Posterior thigh muscles activity during the active H-test: An electromyographic and kinematic analysis

Publication date :

24 March 2024

Journal title :

Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies

ISSN :

1360-8592

Publisher :

Churchill Livingstone

Volume :

Pages :

525 - 530

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Additional URL :

https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S1360859224001499?httpAccept=text/xml

Funders :

ULiège - University of Liège

Funding text :

This work was support by the University of Liège, Belgium. No funding was provided for the writing of this article.

Available on ORBi :

since 25 April 2024

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