Differences in eccentric hamstring force among young indonesian handball players based on injury history

Handball is characterized by frequent changes in direction, jumping, and intense physical contact, which contribute to a high incidence of injuries, especially in the lower extremities. These injuries often come with the risk of re-injury or new injuries, affecting athletic performance. Assessing hamstring muscle strength, vital for knee joint stability, is a crucial approach to preventing sports injuries. Weakness in eccentric hamstring strength can increase the risk of overuse injuries, hamstring strains, and ACL tears. Detecting muscle strength imbalances in athletes is an effective strategy for preventing future injuries. This study aimed to compare maximum eccentric hamstring force and assess asymmetry between the right and left legs in young male and female handball players with differing injury histories. Performed as an analytic observational study with a cross-sectional design, it involved a total sample of 82 young handball players (46 males and 36 females), grouped according to their injury history. Participants performed an eccentric hamstring strength test using the Nordic hamstring bilateral test, measured with the NordBord hamstring testing device (VALD Performance, Australia). This study found a significant difference in the percentage of asymmetry between players with a history of injury and those without (p = 0.000). However, the mean maximal hamstring eccentric strength did not differ significantly between injury history groups in each gender. The observed higher mean percentage of hamstring eccentric imbalance in players with a history of injury may be influenced by various factors, including player position, rehabilitation process, training level, body composition, and overall physical performance. The high percentage of imbalances in athletes requires careful attention to mitigate their negative effects on athletic performance and reduce the risk of injury.