Fiche pratique du Sprint Mechanics Assessment Score (SMAS)

Hamstring muscle injuries remain a significant issue in sports like soccer, rugby and athletic, often occurring during sprinting at maximal velocity. Risk factors include age, previous injury and eccentric strength deficit or muscle architecture. Collaborative studies highlight links between increased injury risk and specific sprinting mechanics errors, such as poor trunk control, excessive posterior leg cycle, anterior pelvic tilt and overstriding. To assess sprint mechanics and identify technical errors, Bramah et al. developped the Sprint Mechanics Assessment Score (S-MAS). The S-MAS uses 12 dichotomous criteria to evaluate technical parameters, scoring a total out of 12. Tested on 18 male and 18 female amateur and professional soccer players, the S-MAS showed a very good reliability (ICC 0.799 to 0.828), and low standard error of measurement (SEM 1 point out of 12). Score of 12 are extremely poor, 7–11 very poor, 6 poor, 3–5 average, 2 good and 0–1 excellent. Participants perform two 35 m sprints at maximum speed, with video analysis conducted using slow-motion (240 fps) evaluated using software like Kinovea® or apps as My Jump Lab. The S-MAS is a valuable tool for assessing sprint mechanics, identifying issues that increase hamstring injury risk, and support prevention and rehabilitation strategies.