A Previous Hamstring Injury Affects Limb Dominance in Soccer Kicking

The objective of this study was to study if the influence of limb dominance on kicking is affected by a previous hamstring injury to either limb. Forty-five players (26 females and 19 males) belonging to elite soccer teams volunteered to take part in the study. They performed 5 instep soccer kicks with either limb into a target 7m away. Differences were found across limb dominance for the uninjured group in peak linear velocities, hip flexion velocity, knee angle at ball impact, and hip moments. A previous injury prevented the rapid extension of the hamstring muscle fibres, being more predominant in the nondominant limb. Thus the effects of a previous hamstring injury must be taken into account while dealing with the kicking technique, and the location of the injury on the dominant or non-dominant limb is equally important.