Journal of Isfahan Medical School

Journal of Isfahan Medical School

Unanticipated Cutting Maneuver Effects on Ground Reaction Force Amplitude Alterations in Athletes with Concurrent Hamstring-Lumbar Injury and Healthy Individuals

Document Type : Original Article (s)

Authors
Farhad Rezazadadeh 1
Shirin Aali 2
Parya Sharifi 3
Marjan Zareian 4
Parsa Forghani 5
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Sports Biomechanics, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Sport Science Education, Farhangian University, P.O., Tehran, Iran
3 MSc Student, Department of Sports Biomechanics, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil, Iran
4 PhD in Knowledge and Information Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
5 Kinesioligy and Health Sciences Student, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
10.48305/jims.v43.i842.1688
Abstract
Background: Hamstring Strain Injuries (HSI) and Low Back Pain (LBP) are prevalent musculoskeletal disorders in athletes with high recurrence rates. However, the biomechanical interaction of concurrent HSI and LBP on lower-limb loading under unpredictable conditions remains insufficiently understood. The objective of this study was to compare ground reaction force (GRF) components—vertical, shear, and free moment—between athletes with concurrent hamstring–lumbar injury and healthy controls during an unanticipated side-step cutting maneuver.
Methods: In this cross-sectional comparative study, 40 male athletes (20 with concurrent HSI and non-specific chronic LBP and 20 healthy matched controls) performed unanticipated cutting maneuvers on a force plate at a controlled speed of ~4 m/s. Peak medial-lateral shear force (Fx), vertical impact force (Fz-Impact), active vertical force, and free moment (Tz) were extracted and normalized. Independent t-tests and Hedges’ g effect sizes were calculated.
Findings: The injured group demonstrated significantly greater Fx at heel contact (P=0.001; g=1.53) and vertical impact force (P = 0.004; g = 0.98) in the involved limb. Significant differences with medium-to-large effect sizes were also observed for active vertical force (P = 0.030; g = 0.71) and minimum free moment (P=0.038; g=0.68). No significant between-group differences were found for the healthy limb.
Conclusion: Athletes with concurrent HSI and NCLBP exhibit impaired attenuation of shear and vertical forces during unanticipated tasks. The large effect sizes suggest a stiff landing strategy associated with deficient proximal neuromuscular control within the kinetic chain. Rehabilitation programs should emphasize force absorption strategies under neurocognitive demand to reduce re-injury risk.

Highlights

Farhad Rezazadeh:  Google Scholar, PubMed

Shirin Aali : PubMed ,Google Scholar

Parya Sharifi : Google Scholar , PubMed

Keywords
Low Back Pain
Hamstring Muscles
Biomechanical Phenomena
Athletes
Sprains and Strains

Subjects

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Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 43, Issue 842
2nd Week , February
January and February 2026
Pages 1688-1694

  • Receive Date 26 January 2026
  • Accept Date 21 February 2026