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PREVENTION OF ATHLETIC INJURIES
Gabe Mirkin, M.D.
A study from Sweden shows that preseason strength training for the hamstring muscles prevents injuries to the muscle in the back of the upper legs.
Hamstring tears are very common soccer injuries, so players from two of the best soccer teams in Sweden were divided into two groups; one group received specific hamstring training of 10 weeks of twice a week of using a special device to overload the hamstrings eccentrically. The trained group had less than one third the hamstring injuries and also had greater improvement in hamstring strength and running speed. While stretching has been shown to help athletes become stronger, it has not been shown to prevent injuries. Muscles are injured because the force on them is greater than their inherent strength, so they tear. Resistance training makes muscles stronger so that they can withstand greater forces and therefore helps prevent injuries.
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